Thanks to E.J. Dionne for reminding me of this gem:

Bush's McCain Strategy Redux (washingtonpost.com)

"When I was young and irresponsible, I was young and irresponsible."

That was George W. Bush's brilliant dodge throughout the 2000 campaign whenever questions came up as to how he behaved during his twenties and early thirties. By poking fun at himself, Bush was winking at the press corps, especially the baby boomers among them. Bush's unspoken subtext: You guys did a lot of irresponsible things then, too, so you're not in an ideal position to ask me a lot of questions, are you?

I want to see an ad with those words coming out of Bush's mouth, then the Nominee recounting all the different ways this administration has shown itself to be irresponsible (budget deficits being exhibit A), then look in the camera and say:

"You're not so young any more, Mr. President, but you're still irresponsible. What's your excuse now?"