American casualties in Iraq now number more than 20,000, including 2,500 dead since Mr. Bush, in spite of good advice against doing so, launched the war in March 2003.

More than 2,400, or roughly 95% of the fallen, have been killed since the President declared "Mission Accomplished" from the deck of the Abraham Lincoln.

Now comes the campaign season, and from beneath the rocks where GOP spinmeisters lie emerge the first "Look over there - a kitty!" TV spots, urging us to remember solons long missing in action, in terms they think will convince us all of their youth, wisdom, competence, integrity, and "leadership abilities." Sure enough, like Capistrano's first swallow (or Leesburg's first vulture) Junior Senator George Allen popped up on the screen this week in full youthful vigor, hair untouched by even a hint of gray, tie-less in Garibaldi crimson (or is that Powell Hill's red battle shirt), reminding us (in less than 30 seconds) of all he's done to address traffic problems in northern Virginia, improve education, and protect our children from exposure to predators on the internet.

It was truly inspiring. So pithy, to the point, and short! I thought about it the whole time I sat in traffic, listening to the latest no-child-left-behind statistics and the "MySpace.com" lawsuit.

As you've probably heard, the campaign slogans for the GOP this year are, in fact, already crafted and tailored to avoid saying anything of real significance . . . and, especially, nothing to link GOP candidate X to GOP President Y (or, in this case, W).

But, just in case you're wondering, we here on the blue side have received an advance copy of some of the GOP's suggested talking points for the fall, which we hereby share happily with all those who wish to TIVO past them later:

"George? Never heard of him. Any kin to Jeb?"
"Iraq? Stay the course (whatever THAT is). Remember the insurgency is STILL in its final throes. Don't "cut and run" but don't be surprised if we "stand down as the Iraqis stand up," which they do every two years right around election time in November."
"Iran, North Korea, and nuclear weapons? We're relying on our intelligence (the CIA, NSA, Homeland Security kind) and our track record of success in international diplomacy. Trust us."
"The new Iraqi government's plans to pardon Iraqis who "only" killed Americans? It's part of bringing democracy to people who hate freedom and the American way of life. Live with it. And don't talk about it. And for heavens sakes, don't ask what's-his-name to talk about it."
"NATIONAL 'issues'? Not my job. I represent the guys who hired me."
"Domestic spying? Trust us. Our boys do a heck-of-a-job and we're getting legal advice from the same ethical paragons who brought you Guantanamo and the torture memo."
"Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib, Haditha? Tempests in teacups. Our boys were only following orders we didn't give 'em based on sound legal advice we didn't follow because if we had, it wouldn't have been legal . . . or prudent . . . or something like that. Look, a kitty!"
"Deficits? Cut taxes on the rich and let 'em trickle down on the poor. Increasing the minimum wage is Communist . . . except when we're talking about what we pay to members of Congress."
"Gas prices? The new Hummer's much more efficient and Al Gore's just stone crazy."
"Katrina? Isn't that someone's cat?"
"National SECURITY? Isn't that a bank? Haven't we outsourced that?"
"Avian Flu? Either it's impossible (because things don't evolve) or we're prepared. Heavens, five morgue slots and some cots in the schools should be able to handle the tens of thousands of worst-case-scenario deaths in a little place like Loudoun."
"Earmarks for sale? I don't believe in tattoos or piercing. And I've never sold any to Jack Abramoff or anyone else I never knew."

Footnote: "Blunders, Blood and Politics – Vietnam Edition: Kudos to George Mason's National Security Archive (http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/index.html) for publishing documents revealing that Henry Kissinger told the Chinese it would be just fine for North Vietnam to conquer the south, three years BEFORE the fall of Saigon. Peace with China, Kissinger told reporters, was worth it. . . . as if there were no other choices. No word of any apologies offered to those whose sons and daughters died defending a country we'd really abandoned. A better man would return his decorations and retire from public life.