‘I don't think you can win it’: Don’t know how this is going to play out politically, but it’s big news when George W. Bush says about the War on Terror, ‘I don't think you can win it.’ ... No, he’s not being defeatist. Yes, to a degree, he’s being a realist. Nobody ever expected a surrender ceremony on the USS Missouri. But neither did anyone expect a surrender ceremony on the USS Missouri after the Berlin Wall fell -- even though after the wall fell we all knew we had won. The fact is: The president said previously we could and would win it. Now he says we can’t and won’t. That’s an extremely profound shift, right? ... Some of his clarity of purpose is gone by saying this. Some of the clarity of those calling this ‘World War IV’ is also gone. Poof! Bye-bye Churchillian rhetoric. ... But the introduction of a shade of gray is reassuring at the same time. As I said, I have no idea how this is going to play out politically. It’ll probably get lost in all the God awful Swifty debate. ...

Maybe I’m reading too much into this, but here we have a president radically shifting rhetoric about the war’s main goal -- victory -- while at the same time France is only now being jolted into the realization there might indeed be a war out there. Two countries approaching a new reality from different directions? Hmmmm. ...

... This is a perfect, perfect opportunity to observe Beehive activity in action. The Bushies will be out in force, if the president’s utterances take on the head of steam they deserve, saying how it’s not a big deal, we all knew it, the president is only speaking the truth, the president really meant this-and-that, the liberals are the last ones to talk, etc. etc. etc. Listen carefully. The buzzing sound is faintly out there, growing louder, coming toward us ... Ideology and partisanship: The ultimate hack combo.

How bad is Kerry? A gaping hole has just been ripped open and there’s no discernible opening for Kerry to take advantage of. Think about Kerry going bonkers, shouting, ‘But we CAN win it!!!’ No one will believe him. They’d laugh. He certainly can’t say, ‘I was right! We can NOT win it!!!’ ... A meatball grinder and root beer to anyone who can come up with a way for Kerry to take advantage of this shift. I can’t think of it. Rule clarification: Mickey Kaus’ Just Shut Up theory doesn’t count.

Bubbling Hub Blog theory: George has lost focus ever since he put his Saddam trophy on display in the Oval Office. ... It wasn’t personal, of course.

Coming soon to Hub Blog: How we CAN win the war!!! As long as you define it right. ...   ¶ 7:50 AM