If You've Lost Neuman

James Taranto is merciless when he references the latest spoof in Mad Magazine. He writes:

"If I've lost Neuman, I've lost Middle America." That's how we imagine President Obama reacting to being scathed by MAD magazine. The Usual Gang of Idiots tweeted a parody poster yesterday for "Barack Obama's Unfortunate New Movie," titled "Trading Private Bergdahl." The tag line: "They got five Taliban leaders. We got one deserting weasel. The mission is a disaster." Obama is depicted as the lead actor, with the Taliban quintet in supporting roles. The picture is rated "NC" for "No Congressional Approval."

How in the world did an administration known for political competence, if for no other kind, manage to pull off such a public-relations disaster? The answer is that the left has a very large blind spot when it comes to military culture.

Did the White House honestly believe that the soldiers who knew full well that Bergdahl left his post voluntarily would remain silent? I suspect that in their unlimited arrogance, members of the administration believed that the military remains, like a shrinking number of Americans, still in the thrall of this president. They were wrong. It's also likely that they incorrectly assumed that the media would remain the trained hamsters that they've been for the past 5.5 years and ignore the story. They were wrong yet again.

And even worse, they believed that the Tommy Flanagan strategy I discussed yesterday would fly. It didn't.

The smartest guys in the room? Seriously?