It’s almost funny to watch the Nine Dwarves stumble over their feet as they try to dance the dance of defeatism around President Bush’s visit to Iraq, clumsy and falling out, even with the determined coaching of the New York Times: Democrats Temper Praise for Bush Visit With Criticism.

The surprise visit stunned and confused his rivals, who struggled in the midst of Thanksgiving dinner to balance praise for the president’s gesture with renewed criticism of his Iraq policy, which they said would be among his greatest vulnerabilities in next year’s election.

“It’s nice that he made it over there today, but this visit won’t change the fact that those brave men and women should never have been fighting in Iraq in the first place,” said Jay Carson, a spokesman for Howard Dean, one of the biggest critics of the war among the nine Democrats vying for the party’s presidential nomination.

Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts issued a statement saying that the trip was “the right thing to do for our country.” But, he added: “When Thanksgiving is over, I hope the president will take the time to correct his failed policy in Iraq that has placed our soldiers in a shooting gallery.”

David Axelrod, a senior adviser to Senator John Edwards of North Carolina, described the visit as a “daring move and great politics,” but added: “I think these kids need more. I’m sure they were buoyed by his coming, but they need more.”

The latest duplicitous Democratic mantra: “More! They/we need more! FEED ME!”