But seriously, Mr. President

Maybe I should write something about the President's speech yesterday.

Back in Reagan's era, Republicans understood better than Democrats the importance of visuals surrounding the party and President.

Today, they sort of get the general gist of it, but it really breaks down in execution.

The first time the President went in front of a captive audience of military personnel and did his 'Terror! Terror!" speech, it made him seem very Commander In Chief-y and on top of things.

The sceond time worked pretty well, too.

But by the time he'd gotten aound to the umpteenth iteration, press and public alike were pretty much yawning.

But then came the series of photo op snafus on the Gulf Coast, in which we learned the stuff of which Mr. Bush is actually made .

So now the President is back to the one setting with which he feels comfortable: standing in front of a group of military personnel (or in this case, cadets) who can be ordered to applaud him and while he recites the "stay the course" mantra. (While we continue to wonder what 'the course' is.)

The familiar 'theme backdrop' has returned, too, although I'm not sure what to make of the drawn-on rivets. The President looks like he's hosting 'Factory Floor Jeopardy.'