The trouble with embracing the role of Hate Speech Central before an election is that no graceful segue to bipartisanship is possible. Especially when apologizing, or even admitting you did what you did, is totally out of the question.

True to type, President Bush is just trying to brazen it out, as if everyone will just forget all the invective he spewed if he keeps talking nice and pretends he never equated voting against Republicans with treason. On Thursday he offered this piece of brazenry after meeting with Nancy Pelosi:

But we do agree that we love America equally…

Mr. President, I’m a Democrat and that’s news to me. When exactly did you give up sticking pins in voodoo dolls of us? When exactly did you stop applying “Either you’re with us or you’re against us” to the American public?

For far too long, Bush’s working philosophy towards his political opponents has been “Kiss my ass or you’re a damn traitor”. It will take a heck of a lot of very public penance before America buys this “I love all my children equally” line of crap.

And, George? Don’t even think of trying to sell us “I’ve always loved all my children equally”. Too much of what you said is indelibly branded in the memories of too many people. (Remember us? We’re the ones you can’t fool all of the time.)

On the subject of ass-kissing, Bush is extremely fond of invoking the judgment of history. I think history will record that there were two types of Republicans in Congress during the first six years of Bush’s presidency—those who kissed his ass, and those who kissed his ass with tongue. I’m sure everyone has their own nominees for the latter category, but some people might make it to everyone’s list. Senator Arlen Specter, for example.