Got to agree with McGrath, DougR - I've seen plenty commentators expressing unease about the way Bush comes across. I don't care much for Powell myself, but he is so obviously the better man that it's embarrassing. Likewise the NY mayor. But if a guy can get to be president just because of who his daddy was, that's the risk you take.

He's winning international support, rightly, but that's because he's reading the right prompt cards. But there's no question of him being given carte blanche, by Britain or the rest of Europe, if only because of disquiet at his sheer lack of experience. Ok, it's not his fault he's only been in office eight months, but it's sure as hell his own fault that he was a drunken lout for most of his adult life.