Either it’s a wash or a slight bump up for the administration. Why? Because the media and the most partisan Democrats can always be relied on to turn opportunity into damage.

The Veep had an accident. He obviously feels terribly about it, and he’s a gentleman, so he’ll be contrite — not because he’s playing the role (although that no doubt is part of it) but because he really is sorry.

By contrast, the transparently partisan hyperbole (I mean, Aaron Burr? Gimme a break!) and the unrestrained glee in reaction to a mishap is over the top even by Washington standards. Normal people look at this and see in a froth over an accident the same people who couldn’t summon up a pulse over President Clinton’s INTENTIONAL misconduct. It’s the Veep they’ll empathize with.

I’m not trying to compare Clinton and Cheney — although that may not be a bad idea. I am just opining that whenever the media and the Dem bomb-throwers have a true-colors moment during which they are front-and-center, that is good for the Bush administration.