An e-mail:

Smart Hill Guy: “And the fact is the American people don’t think the mission is vital to our security… So I don’t see how that statement really helps.” I’m just a Dumb Guy in the Midwest, but isn’t the political purpose of Bush’s speech, not to convince the “American people,” but to motivate his political base to get out and vote on November? And, furthermore, isn’t it true that, whatever the “American people” may think, Bush’s base still believes in the Iraq War and will therefore be fruitfully impacted by Bush’s statement of resolve and the mission’s importance?