In the spirit of LBJ's ...I don't care whether it's true. Just make the bastard deny it... This is the most cogent analysis I've read of the Bush-Appeasement speech this week in Israel.

No one in the US who runs for public office has suggested that the US break with Israel to appease terrorists. Obama certainly hasn't suggested that, and perhaps apart from the really lunatic fringes of both Left and Right, that notion doesn't get any oxygen at all here. Obviously, Bush wasn't referring to American politicians in this passage, but instead politicians in Europe and elsewhere who have either an animus towards Israel or appreciation for dhimmitude. Nothing -- and I mean nothing -- in this speech points to any candidate or the Democratic Party, unless they identify themselves as the reference.

Up until now, for the most part, W has kept himself out of the presidential race. With his low approval rating he has little to add to the race. There is no reason to think that this behavior would change any time soon. There is little incentive for him to take a swing at any of the candidates. Add that thinking to the text of the speech and you have a president defending his policies to an audience that is a direct beneficiary. It's nothing more until Obama, Biden and the rest draw attention to themselves by declaring their disbelief at the assumed accusation.

I'm not sure if this is brilliance on W's part, in that I mean his baiting of the parties to name themselves. Or, is it a gaffe by a junior campaigner and then a pile-on by the other hacks in the party. Even in combination, W is rider of the week.