Bush says he's best protection from draft

"The best way to avoid the draft is to vote for me." The most amazing thing about this statement is not only how irrational it is, as Josh Marshall points out, but how much of a flip-flop it represents from the campaign's earlier responses.

Less than a week ago, Ed Gillespie, the Chairman of the Republican National Committee, sent a legal-type threatening letter to a small nonprofit for daring to point out that a draft is possible and should be a consideration in the election. According to the letter, such advocacy amounted to malicious speculation and reckless disregard for the truth. "As a 'non-partisan' organization that enjoys the benefits of being formed under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, you have an obligation to immediately cease and desist from promoting or conducting your 'draft' campaign."

That was then. Now, I guess, the facts on the ground in Iraq or elsewhere in the world have changed their minds, and they think that a draft is a distinct possibility. Though for some unarticulated reason it is somewhat more likely if Kerry is elected. Breathtaking.