WHAT WOULD OSAMA DO?

Michael Kinsley on the entirely dumb question of who Osama bin Laden prefers, Bush or Kerry:

The difference between Osama bin Laden's endorsement and John McCain's (well, one of many differences) is that McCain's presumably has a positive effect and Bin Laden's has a negative one. If Bin Laden wants to help his candidate, he must hide — or even disguise — his preference. This makes any argument or evidence about that preference inherently self-defeating. If he is honorary chairman of the annual "Kabul Salutes W" dinner and gala, does that mean he supports Bush or does it mean he wants people to think he supports Bush, which really means that he doesn't support Bush?

...At least Bin Laden is probably concentrating on what really matters in this election. He is not spending a lot of time comparing ancient typewriter fonts, or reviewing the circumstances of Kerry's third Purple Heart. In that sense — and only in that sense — he may be a good influence.