It is too, too bad that the American press has too few journalists and too many White House surrogates. Otherwise, the startling assortment of damning comments made by members of the Executive Branch might actually have been pursued with the same energy reserved for more important things like whether Eric Bana is the next 007.

Case in point, on Tuesday, the vice president was dispatched to California's Camp Pendleton, where, flanked by two 155mm howitzers and 2,500 camouflaged Marines, he defended the administration's Iraq policy and claimed that "the perception of weakness" -- not aggressive U.S. foreign policy -- causes terrorist attacks.

Hm, terrorist attacks. Like 9/11. According to Dick, there must have been a perception of weakness.

Hanging out in Texas most of that summer, instead of slaving away like a newly-elected president of the world's only superpower, that perhaps wasn't the best show of strength. Appointing a NSC that blew off Richard Clarke on a topic that had been given the highest national security priority by the outgoing administration, that could have sent a message of "The White House—Out to Lunch" variety.

If only the media and the electorate would do their jobs and kick over the chair.