The Little Dig

President Bush couldn't resist a little a jab at the Democrats last night even as he talked about working together. He insisted on referring to the opposition as the "Democrat Party," a right-wing dog whistle insult instituted by Sen. Joseph McCarthy.

Dropping the last syllable from "Democratic" is an infantile little thing -- the presidential version of "neener, neener!" It's deliberate, and it is meant to annoy. As the WSJ's Washington Wire notes, it's a true indication of Mr. Bush's attitude about partisan sniping; as long as he can get away with it and assume the bully's faux innocence ("Me? Be snide? Never!"), he'll keep digging.

Well, if it means that much to him, let him have it. It's about the only thing he can get away with.