Watch His Back

Scenery often helps politicians sell a speech--a schoolroom setting or a national park says more than just a talking head. But the Bush team has made a habit of visual message bearing, regularly wallpapering the President's backdrop with the official theme of the day. The backgrounds, designed by a former ABC producer on the President's staff, are a favorite of top Bush adviser Karl Rove, who became a fan during the campaign because he liked how the phrases showed up in still pictures and close-ups. The downside, it became apparent last week, comes when the words ("Strengthening Our Economy") don't match up with the numbers also on the TV screen (the plunging Dow).