WASHINGTON -- George W. Bush is off to a good and fast start. In his first days as U.S. president, he has begun to soften his relationships with his adversaries, organize his control over the vast bureaucracy of the federal government, initiate innovative programs and promote his promised legislative initiatives. And he has done so in a pleasant, non-confrontational manner, entertaining the Democratic leaders of the House and Senate, members of the Kennedy family and the Congressional Black Caucus.

The wheels churned slowly to put the new government in place but by last week the Senate confirmed the entire Bush Cabinet. The most controversial nominee, John Ashcroft for attorney general, was confirmed by a margin of 58 to 42 votes. The Democrats wanted to make a bit of a show and did. They got more than 40 votes, the number needed to end a filibuster, meaning that they could have delayed the nomination indefinitely if they had wanted to.

Ashcroft, a big negative symbol to many Democratic support groups, did not help himself during his hearings. But since he was sure of at least one Democrat vote, that of Missouri Sen. Jean Carnahan, who defeated him last November, Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle was anxious to top the 40-vote mark to send a signal -- and he did.