Score another victory for the White House advance team (and probably Rove, our Rasputin) for providing Bush yet another perfect backdrop - thousands of cheering National Guardsmen. The Associated Press, however, pointed out that the White House advance team even had the National Guard break military tradition. The soldiers are supposed to snap to attention when the President comes in, but the advance crew convinced the military authorities that it would be best "to keep them seated and cheering." And then to ensure a perfect perfect backdrop, they proceeded to practice cheers with the soldiers prior to Bush's entry.

Does this not remind you of "1984." Perception is everything, I guess.