I agree with Brit’s panel and with Kaus, Bush shouldn’t be giving a prime time speech tonight. The Iraq war had a good week because of Petraeus, Bush doesn’t need to put his fingerprints on the Petraeus report. Indeed, that’s exactly what Democrats have been trying to do for a couple weeks now: turn it into the Bush-Petraeus report. Why help them out?

Update: From a reader:

But if Bush didn’t speak, wouldn’t the Democrats and the media make a big point that Bush was so unsure of himself that he is hiding behind Petraeus? I don’t see how he can not follow up on this.

Me: I agree. But I don’t see why it has to be a prime time national address. How about a Rose Garden statement? Or a daytime press conference? Hey, maybe this speech will be great and a real boon for him and the war effort. But from what I’m hearing, it sounds like he’ll be saying “ditto, let’s do that” in response to Petraeus’ recommendations. And, I’m not sure that merits this sort of venue. If it works, great. But, as Mickey notes, these addresses haven’t helped him that much in the past.