Former Bush Strategist Splits With President (2/2)

He said he disagreed with Dowd's assertion" class="hjdict" word="assertion" target=_blank>assertion that the president is isolated, and does not understand the difficulties of the war.

"I have spent most of the last 14 years working beside this president, I know everyday he wakes up and there is nothing that weighs more heavily on his mind than this conflict and the people he is sending into it and risking their lives."

Dowd also has a long history with the president that goes back to his days as the Republican governor of Texas. He told the New York Times he joined the Bush staff because of the governor's ability to work with Democrats in the state legislature.

But Dowd said that as president, George W. Bush has squandered the ability to unite the country after the September 11th terrorist attacks on the United States.

Congressional Democrats seized on those comments, including Delaware's Joe Biden - the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

"I think that is the most disappointing legacy" class="hjdict" word="legacy" target=_blank>legacy of this administration, not Iraq or any specific item, I think it is that sort of mindset."