The arrogance of the Democrats never fails to amaze me. The latest in the long line of liberals to proclaim who much smarter they are than that dumb dumb (who's kicking their asses, by the way) George W. Bush is former Texas governor Ann Richards. Richards, in Madison, WI to talk to women voters is ever the charmer, saying that Kerry's main problem in the upcoming debates is that he just knows so much more than Bush.

Kerry, like Richards and other Democrats who have faced Bush in past debates, probably knows too much.

"As a consequence, we see issues in less simplistic terms than the president. The president speaks in terms that are so simple on the most complex issues that it sort of leaves you with your mouth hanging open," says Richards, who was unseated by Bush 10 years ago this fall.

For a woman who once lamented that George H.W. Bush was "born with a silver foot in his mouth", Richards seems to either have her own foot firmly entrenched between her lips or her head up you know where. She claims that Kerry's other main problem "is that there are just too many targets for Kerry to hit all of them." For such a smartypants, Richards seems to have no knowledge of the growing economy, rising employment, deaths of major terrorists, and of the upcoming elections in Afghanistan.

I have no idea why the Democrats persist in their strategy of trying to frame Bush as some kind of idiot. Maybe that worked a bit in 2000, when he was more of an unknown, but not now. And, even if people are listening to that message, all they're doing is lowering expectations for Bush's debate performance. The way the Democrats talk, it's a Bush victory if he comes out and manages not to droll on the podium.

The Democrats are so blinded by their hatred of Bush that, I believe, they can no longer think rationally (assuming they ever could) about him. I wonder if they realize how turned off undecided voters will be by classless Richards comments like this:

"He's walking with his arms a little wider, as if he's gonna go for his sidearms. I don't know whether his tailor is making his suits too tight under the arms or whether he's adopted a kind of Gary Cooper-John Wayne walk down the hall to the podium.

I believe that no matter who's in office, you show respect for the President of the United States. As a mature adult, you should be able to put aside any partisan differences and recognize the importance of the President's position both in American and in the world. You don't belittle your leader, particularly in times of war. Unfortunately, Richards, like far too many of her liberal friends, is not a mature adult.