Bush’s enemies will never stop misunderestimating him, will they? Take this from The American Prospect blog:

As a new conventional wisdom begins to dawn about the Democrats’ growing success as an opposition party, and an increasing number of people are raising questions about the political skills of the post-election Bush administration, it’s worth pondering some possible explanations for the (potentially temporary) shift in the political winds.

Is it possible that Bush has become so isolated inside his bubble of thoroughly pre-screened, heavily sympathetic town-halls — the only environment in which he has interacted with real Americans for more than a year now — that he has genuinely lost touch with American opinion?

Garance Franke-Ruta’s answer: Yes.

Please, please, please give me a break. Bush’s strategy may or may not be way off on Social Security. He may not get the bill he wants — though he’s surprised us in the past — but he’s at least already moved the issue to center stage and made the Democrats look obstructionist.

What’s beyond stupid is to think that Bush is somehow so brain damaged as to not understand heavily scripted and screened town-hall meetings as what they are. I mean, I know these people think the president’s not all that bright, but he’s not a child, he’s not senile and he’s not an actual chimp — despite the occasional unfortunate facial expression.

The Bush White House is fully aware of the political hill it’s climbing. The Bushies may not surmount it, but they’re not trying to walk through it.