His mission accomplished, the man who, famously, "campaigned as if he really didn't want to be president" (hint: he didn't), gratefully returns to private life. Assuming (as we may without excessive cynicism) that the sole purpose of his run was *to prevent a repeat of McCain's prior primary loss to the evangelical candidate in S. Carolina, may we not with interest inquire after the identity of the author of this well played, if not entirely unprecedented strategem?

McCain, who was not famous at Annapolis for cerebration, may still have absorbed enough **Sun-tzu to have set this horse out stalking. If so, let us pause and tender him a moment of respect.

*by successfully fracturing a cohort of voters that, undivided, had given Bush a 53 to 42 victory in 2000.

**The Art of War, Clause 23: If he (your opponent) is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them.