In the war of words between left and right, the conservative chattering classes suffered from a rhetorical quadruple whammy this week. Reality was not kind to the right with Republican rebellion over the Iraq surge, the Libby CIA leak trial, President Bush's abysmal State of the Union and Dick Cheney's media implosion.
Here, then, are Today's Mantras:
"I'm not that good at pronouncing words anyway."
President Bush, January 29, 2007.
"I just want to tell you, I didn't do it."
Scooter Libby, as quoted by current Cheney chief of staff David Addington, September 2003.
"My first reaction on this report from the battlefield is that the Iraqis are beginning to show me something."
President Bush, January 29, 2007.
"Well, I'm vice president and they're not."
Dick Cheney, on his critics, January 29, 2007.
"I see that the Democratic ideas are more related to reality."
Ammar Tuma, a member of Iraq PM Maliki's ruling Shiite coalition, January 28, 2007.
"The Iranian people are more pro-American than any American university faculty."
Tony Snow, January 26, 2007.
"I'm the decision maker."
President Bush, January 26, 2007.
"Because I told them it had to."
President Bush, on why Iraq surge plan will succeed, January 25, 2007.
"I just think it's hogwash."
Dick Cheney, asked about White House mistakes in Iraq, January 25, 2007.
See the complete list of Today's Mantras here.