While the pundit class is hammering away at the war in Iraq, where the Iraqi government is making as much progress fighting the insurgency as Amy Winehouse is in kicking her crack problem, it's easy to overlook just how frustratingly timid they are on the gigantic retarded elephant in the room - the President of the United States.

Even BU history professor Robert Dallek is hedging his bets on laying out the reality that George W. Bush is to the American presidency what Gigli was to the career of Ben Affleck.

In this news article, Dallek walks all the way up to the line but never quite crosses it:  "You bounce back if the person behind you is worse...Ronald Reagan had Jimmy Carter. Hard to imagine that there will be a series of presidents who will make Bush look better."

Then again, maybe Dallek is right. But only if Charles Manson somehow gets elected. Well, him or Dick Cheney.