Frankly, it doesn't much matter whether they want to think Bush grew into the job. If that's the story they need in order to reassure themselves they they badly misunderstood the man, just as long as they recognize his capabilities now, that's what counts. The longer this war goes on, the harder it will be for them to pretend that Bush has gone back to being stupid again after it's over. I'm still seeing the stupid jokes from liberals, but they are getting scarcer every day.