On Notice

Yesterday, before I saw this sequence of images, I was admiring the way the Dems, and Nancy Pelosi, in particular, have finally begun exploiting Bush's greatest weakness.

With the White House - Congressional war over Iraq now fully engaged, Pelosi hit Bush earlier yesterday with what, for him, is pure Kryptonite.  If you check out this video clip of Pelosi urging Bush to "calm down," you'll identify that weapon as temperance.

It's not that we haven't seen examples of a hostile Bush having all kinds of trouble keeping his attitude in check (example 1, 2).  What's more recent, however, is that Bush no longer has to get worked up to impress a tone of belligerence.  At this point, the Dems (and his "brand change weary" Iraq campaign) are more plainly revealing Bush as the perpetual militant.

So touché to Nancy for killing with kindness -- and for driving it home at last night's Radio and Television Correspondents Association dinner with this fantastic "we've got our hands on you!"

And one more reference to add.  The shot of Nancy in Bush's ear is almost reminiscent of "My Pet Goat."  In this case, however, what seems to have hit the terminally stubborn and consequently off-guard Bush is the growing perception of this war as an elective one -- and the fact he's got another opponent out there he's been seriously underestimating.

By the way, this shot of Laura and Nancy last night, "split" by a color guard and singing the national anthem, also speaks to the strides Dems have made in neutralizing Bush's  PR exploitation of patriotism and the military.

(image 1,2, 4 & 5:  Jason Reed/Reuters.  image 3: Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP. Washington March 28, 2007. via YahooNews.)