Snowball

Is it time to start panicking? Not yet. But it might be time to worry about worrying when Jay Nordlinger is writing things like this:

I thought Kerry did very, very well; and I thought Bush did poorly — much worse than he is capable of doing. Listen: If I were just a normal guy — not Joe Political Junkie — I would vote for Kerry. On the basis of that debate, I would. If I were just a normal, fairly conservative, war-supporting guy: I would vote for Kerry. On the basis of that debate.

And I promise you that no one wants this president reelected more than I. I think that he may want it less.

Let me phrase one more time what I wish to say: If I didn't know anything — were a political naïf, being introduced to the two candidates for the first time — I would vote for Kerry. Based on that infernal debate.

Just so there's no mistake, Nordlinger elsewhere calls the Bush presidency "Rushmore-level" and avers that "I have a deep fondness — love, really — for the man, though I don't know him."

Again, how did Karl Rove allow this to happen? Even if Bush recovers and slimes Kerry to death, Rove still, somehow, fucked up royally.