Stephen Green sums up the speech Bush gave aboard the USS Lincoln last night:

Was it necessary? Yes and no. At the conclusion of any campaign, the President usually first addresses Congress, then goes on a victory tour of some sort with the troops. Or at least that's how Bush 41 did it after the Gulf War. The Congressional address is carried live by all the major networks. The talk to the troops is carried on the evening news. What Bush 43 did was to combine the two, thereby damn near forcing the networks to carry the speech live – with all the political theater you just can't get walking into the House chamber.

It was a victory speech, but it was also the first commercial in his re-election campaign. And every channel carried it live.

Republicans must be wetting themselves. Democrats can't do much at all – they'll look sour and (let's whisper this part) unpatriotic if they raise a fuss.

I'm not saying what Bush did was correct. I am saying it's some of the smartest politics I've ever witnessed, and on several different levels.

I agree. Pure 100% theater.