Not only can I not stand to listen to George W. Bush — the only president who consistently evokes Jimmy Cagney when speaking by using the word, “see” to start or end nearly every sentence — I can’t stand to watch him talk either.

But Julie Mason can, and she records some sharp observations about his recent Rose Garden press conference.

Bush has been using a different speaking style lately, with more angry-sounding, often highly partisan rhetoric and stronger body language.

He grips the podium, jabs a finger and raises his voice. He squares his shoulders, mocking Democrats and scoffing at critics of his policies.

Mason concludes that Bush is in campaign battle mode.

Key issues for Bush are North Korea and the Middle East, where the stakes, Bush said, “are really high.” And numerous: Bush alluded to the “stakes” 11 times in just more than an hour in his Rose Garden news conference.

Bush has been using a different speaking style lately, with more angry-sounding, often highly partisan rhetoric and stronger body language.

In fact, “the stakes couldn’t be any higher,” Bush said. “I understand the stakes. I’m going to repeat them one more time.”

He added, “As a matter of fact, I’m going to spend a lot of time repeating the stakes.”

The stakes are high for Bush in November. If he can’t lead his party to another majority in the House and Senate, his domestic agenda may wind up as scraps of forgotten rhetoric. He could also face stronger and more effective resistance to his Iraq policy…

Everyone got that? See, the stakes are really high. For once I’ll take Bush’s word for it. So get out and vote, see? Because undermining Bush’s ability to have his way is the highest stake of all.