Something I missed: Some commentary on the latest polls from the Beeb, drowned out (for me) by all the droning about Bush's 'populist' 'U-turn' over Rice's public testimony. Apparently Bush's 'narrow lead' can be attributed to 'the fact that for many people Mr Clarke's allegations have been drowned out by millions of dollars that the Bush campaign has started to spend on advertising.'

Of course the truth is that Clarke's testimony had the best exposure possible: oodles of air-time from supposedly impartial broadcasters like the BBC. CNN for instance gave it massive attention. That's why Clarke's laughing all the way from the bookstore to the bank. The only trouble has been that after their initial impact, people have seen right through his allegations to the self-interested man behind them.