Note the several stories on the front page and the recommended diaries about Al QaQaa. This is a Monday story that through George Bush's ineptitude is still going strong Thursday, with clear evidence (
NY Times and ABC's
KSTP) that there was a major screw-up that can't be wished away; the cover-up may be worse than the initial story, although the story is bad enough.
Whatever Bush's defense, the narrative is that explosives disappeared on Bush's watch, Iraq became more dangerous after Bush invaded, and that competence is not exactly Bush's middle name (W stands for "What the hell did he do now?"). All this during the last week of a tight election. Now usually, charges don't stick unless there's something to stick to. In this case, Iraq is so FUBAR, this just crystallizes the doubts. Or, as Reuters put it:
Kerry Uses Bush's Own Words to Call Him Unfit
Nothing Bush says will make those doubts disappear before Tuesday, regardless of how his non-reality-based partisans react. Anyone doubt this has legs? I wonder if ABC will go with their affiliate's story on the evening news. In any case, we'll be talking about this between now and November.
Surprise.