Acknowledging Defeat

One post ago I asked what a Bush concession speech might look like. Tom Frank has some ideas in TNR Online. This graf strikes me as all too accurate:

One other factor could contribute to a memorable speech from a losing Bush: lack of planning. In a 50-50 race, preparing a gracious concession speech--in addition, of course, to a victory speech--would undoubtedly be prudent. Not much about this White House, however, suggests a plan-for-the-best-prepare-for-the-worst-mentality. In fact, it's easy to imagine that, if an aide were actually to propose that a concession speech be prepared, the result would make General Eric Shinseki's retirement look positively slow and gentle. A Kerry win could, therefore, lead to a combination of Bush soreness plus last-minute Bush wordsmithery--in short, possibly fireworks.

In other words, don't disturb him, he's Henry II (when he isn't Moses). I don't think the ultimate consequence of this unreality-based outlook is lack of a prepared concession speech; I think it's lack of a concession speech entirely.