President Bush continues to endear himself to the public with his “regular guy” image, now it’s his folksy practice of giving cute nicknames to members of Congress. Sen. Olympia Snowe is “The Big O” (the letter, not the number) and Sen. Susan Collins is “Sweet Susan.” OK, so Dubya didn’t scale the heights of originality, but you try coming with 535 bons mots off the top of your head.

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Former President Clinton continues to make a distinctly different impression on the public with his conduct, principally the pardon of fugitive financier Marc Rich. There’s talk of a congressional investigation, subpoenas, immunity, even impeachment. In these hectic, fast-changing times, it is nice to have some continuity.

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One gripe against the Clintons, that they pilfered tons of loot from the White House, doesn’t seem to have much sticking power. It turns out, according to the White House Historical Society, that the practice of presidential swag dates back to the early days of the republic: James Monroe sold his personal furniture to the White House when he moved in and took it with him when he moved out; Grant bolted with a trove of jewelry; Wilson drove off in the official limousine, Reagan (Nancy) stuffed a suitcase with haute couture gowns; Bush I left with 39 more fishing rods than he came in with. The White House has a national security advisor, maybe it’s time for a national security deposit.

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The Cato Institute, a Washington-based conservative think tank, has rated Gov. Angus King a mediocre 28th among the nation’s governors in fiscal policy, chastising the Maine independent in particular for increasing taxes on cigarettes and gasoline. Since the cigarette tax hike goes toward making smokers pay a more realistic share of the cost their unhealthy habit imposes upon society and the gas tax makes drivers pay for the roads they use, it seems Cato takes a rather liberal view of the ”pay as you go” conservative ethic.

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Among the 800-plus bills printed so far for consideration by the Legislature this session, the award for the most intriguing title goes to LD 628, An Act to Prohibit Certain Conduct Relating to Elephants. We can’t wait for the public hearing, but understand that what Maine elephants have been getting away until now is simply outrageous.