One of them, Sen. Bob Graham of Florida, was so taken with the argument that he decided he should run for president against [George W. Bush] on the strength of it. Filing papers last week to launch his presidential run, Graham proudly declared, "I am the only candidate who was in a position to vote on the Iraq resolution who voted no."

It's clear from the successes of the past two weeks that this administration can indeed walk and chew gum at the same time. It can prepare for war with Iraq and fight the war on terrorism. But according to an obsessive Bush-bashing journalist named Jonathan Chait, "Bush's record on homeland security ought to be considered a scandal."

The administration may deserve criticism for its rejection of certain homeland-security measures. But Chait isn't really making a serious argument. He's just trying a new propaganda approach to oppose Bush's economic-recovery proposals. "Bush's highest priority," Chait declares foolishly, "remains tax cuts."