Bridge Over Troubled Bongwater

Above: Bill Kistol prepares to write today’s WaPo editorial, which forever propels the achievement of “dead-end, self-refuting hackery” beyond the reach of mere mortals.

Behold:

Let’s step back from the unnecessary mistakes and the self-inflicted wounds that have characterized the Bush administration. Let’s look at the broad forest rather than the often unlovely trees. What do we see? First, no second terrorist attack on U.S. soil — not something we could have taken for granted. Second, a strong economy — also something that wasn’t inevitable.

And third, and most important, a war in Iraq that has been very difficult, but where — despite some confusion engendered by an almost meaningless “benchmark” report last week — we now seem to be on course to a successful outcome.

Next week: Kristol considers the unappreciated legacies of James Buchanan and Warren Harding. Also, why Papa Doc was good for Haiti after all.