Yes, Mark, it’s very disappointing. I guess Gerson’s angling for The Strange New Respect Award. But what about Bush? I don’t know what he really thinks about Syran. On the one hand he gives speeches and press conferences that sound very smart and strong. On the other hand, he doesn’t do a damn thing about it. So on what basis does one say that “in his heart of hearts, he has it right”? Remember he’s been brainwashed by his Ignorance Community and Foggy Bottoms for more than six years, and they have told him that Syria is an ally, and Iran is a normal country, and that patience will eventually lead us to the Heavenly Land. He obviously has a strong attachment to Condi and she agrees with the Gerson assessment of the Syranians. I don’t think Laura or Karen is pushing him to get tough with the mullahs and Assads. Gates let it be known that his mission was to get out of Iraq.

That leaves Cheney, who, despite what a Guardian article recently claimed, is unlikely to prevail in any debate in the Oval Office on this subject. Ergo, if we’re to read the president’s mind on the basis of his actions–from personnel to policy–don’t we have to conclude that Gerson is speaking for him?