WASHINGTON -- This was supposed to have been President Bush's "comeback" week.

With almost six out of 10 Americans telling pollsters they are unhappy with the president because of the ongoing war in Iraq, high gasoline prices, the federal response to the victims of Katrina and other issues both in and out of his control, the White House carefully choreographed a week of events designed to restore and polish Mr. Bush's luster with voters.

On Monday he nominated his friend and lawyer Harriet Miers to be the next Supreme Court justice. Democrats were either pleased or noncommittal, saying they didn't know much about her. But instead of throwing huzzahs his way, many of Mr. Bush's political allies were angry that she's not well known as a leader in their movement. "I'm disappointed, depressed and demoralized," said William Kristol, editor of the conservative Weekly Standard magazine.

The uproar against Mr. Bush's choice was so unexpectedly intense that Vice President Dick Cheney was dispatched to talk to conservative commentators to try to convince them that Ms. Miers would vote with the court's two most conservative members, Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia.

But the drumbeat of conservative anger grew louder.

On Tuesday the president had his first full-fledged news conference since May 31 to insist that Ms. Miers is the best person he could find for the job and that he knows reliably that she will not change over the next 20 years. Conservatives grew even angrier.

A survey conducted by ConservativeHQ.com, founded by Richard Viguerie, who pioneered conservative fundraising mailings, claimed a poll of 83 conservative leaders found six out of 10 think Mr. Bush is a weakened president and eight out of 10 believe Mr. Bush "is not governing as a conservative." Asked if he is still a conservative, Mr. Bush said, "I'm still a conservative, proudly so, proudly so."

Mr. Bush also ended up warning the nation about the next looming threat -- bird flu. He alarmed most of the nation's governors when he suggested U.S. soldiers may have to patrol U.S. city streets if quarantines are required. He also caused public concern saying that manufacturing capability for flu vaccine is severely limited.

On Wednesday the White House sent top officials to testify in congressional hearings that finally the response to both Hurricane Katrina and Rita was under control. But Republicans and Democrats alike blasted the administration as still at sea over housing, schooling, jobs and medical care for the victims. And the government's no-bid contracts for rebuilding came under fire, forcing them to be reopened.

Later that day, the newly resigned House Republican Leader Tom DeLay, still a member from Texas, was indicted on a second charge. He now is battling a campaign finance conspiracy charge and a money laundering charge.

On Thursday the president gave a "major" speech on progress in the war in Iraq and the war on terror. Shortly after, New York City officials heightened the terror alert in the city's subway system. That infuriated the White House, which did not want New York to release intelligence of a "specific threat" and thought New York's reaction was overwrought.

And a federal prosecutor said Mr. Bush's right-hand man Karl Rove has to testify for a fourth time about his role in outing the identity of a CIA cover operative. That raised speculation among Republicans and Democrats alike that obstruction of justice was an issue for the prosecutor.

Yesterday, the monthly jobs report came out, showing an uptick in joblessness, although not as extensive as had been feared.

Also, the Nobel Peace Prize went to Mohamed ElBaradei and the International Atomic Energy Agency he directs, which is part of the United Nations. Mr. Bush has been critical of the U.N. for years, arguing it is riddled with corruption and needs to be reformed, and at one point tried to have Mr. ElBaradei removed from the IAEA.

As yesterday drew to a close, the Washington Monument was evacuated after a bomb threat, although city police did not take the threat very seriously.

An Associated Press-Ipsos poll of 1,000 Americans released yesterday found that 66 percent believe the country is on the "wrong track" and 58 percent disapprove the way Mr. Bush is handling his job.

By yesterday, White House aides and Cabinet secretaries had been all over the airwaves, trying to repair the damage of a bad week. Dan Bartlett, counselor to the president, made the rounds of all the morning TV talk shows. And the White House was offering top officials to the Sunday talk shows.

The president closed the week on a more cheerful note. Before leaving the Oval Office for the weekend, he proclaimed tomorrow Leif Erikson Day and saluted the contributions of Nordic Americans. He also designated next week as National Fire Prevention Week.