Are no Democrates aware of the fable of the fox who escaped by pretending to be crazy? The Republicans have been using that ploy for years and the Democrats still haven't caught on. They're still underestimating the cunning of the Republicans, still lacking the imagination to come up with counter ploys, still unwilling to look apparent gift horses in the mouth, still unaware that Bush's use of terms like "misunderestimating" and oafish behavior at televised summit conferences is part of a carefully script act to push the idea that he is incompetent. If only he were.

They are rejoicing at the apparent disarray of the Republicans with their detainee torture issue, not stepping in as Senators McCain, Warner and Graham offer proposals that Bush says he can not go along with. Then Senate Majority Leader sends another bill, on electronic spying, back to committees and threatens to filibuster the McCain, Warner and Graham bill, even though he knows there will be no vote on either until after the election.

Can't the Democrats see that this is all shadow boxing, designed to give their Congressional candidates cover to vote as they think will best enhance their election prospects? "Moderate" Republicans in liberal states like Connecticut and Rhode Island can claim that Bush is wrong and they support the "maverick" senators. Those in conservative states and districts can argue that they support Bush. After the election the victorious Republicans will go along with whatever Bush wants.

Meanwhile, as the Democrats are sitting idly by emjoying what they believe is a Republican circular firing squad, the best issue they have going for them -- the rapidly deteriorating situation in Iraq -- is being pushed off the front pages.

To top it off, Presidents Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela come to the UN at this critical time and insult Bush. Are either of them too stupid to realize that their insults are the best thing that happen to Bush politically? They, along with bin Laden, realize that the best thing they have going for them is the inept Bush administration (inept in everything except pushing their own agenda). They pay attention to our politics, more than most of our own people, and realize that a Democratic Congress could gravely weaken Bush and perhaps end his presidency.

But there's a symbiotic relationship between Bush and those nominal enemies. He realizes also that they allow him to play the terrorist card. So he returns the favor and openly criticizes them at the UN.

Lo and behold, Bush's approval ratings are suddenly in the mid forties, up from the mid and high thirties only a few months ago. Just coincidence, of course.