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"By reputation, the President was a very avid and skillful poker player when he was an MBA student."

Usually most believe the game of successful politicians and military strategists is chess. Actually, bridge or poker is closer to real life's challenges. While there is skill and knowing the odds of the cards, there is also psychology and luck. Just like in life. That is why Buffet, Gates et al are ferociously competitive bridge players.

IMHO everyone underestimates President Bush because of his means of presentation. I would bet anyone who has spent time with him would see him as super contactful and persuasive. It probably does no harm for the RATS to underestimate him, but it is important we don't.

I love reading bridge columns when the author says something like, "The odds of finding the King of Hearts onside is 18 to 4, while a finesse for the Queen of Spades yields less than 3 to 1 odds." That sort of calculation is the reason Omar Sharif is an independently wealthy bridge columnist, and I try not to induce conniptions in a partner.

President Bush is Sharif. The liberofascist Democrats are, alas, me. Or is that they are thankfully me?