Condoleezza Rice tells us once again that she was caught completely flatfooted:

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice acknowledged Sunday that the United States had failed to understand the depth of hostility among Palestinians toward their longtime leaders. The hostility led to an election victory by the militant group Hamas that has reduced to tatters crucial assumptions underlying American policies and hopes in the Middle East.

"I've asked why nobody saw it coming," Ms. Rice said, speaking of her own staff. "It does say something about us not having a good enough pulse."...

Ms. Rice pointed out that the election results surprised just about everyone. "I don't know anyone who wasn't caught off guard by Hamas's strong showing," she said ....

Yeah, it was totally unexpected:

European Union to curb aid if Hamas wins big in Palestinian elections

Monday, December 19, 2005

The European Union joined the U.S. House of Representatives on Sunday in threatening to curb aid to the Palestinian Authority if Hamas wins next month's parliamentary election....

Nobody saw it coming:

Israel: Hamas win would be disastrous

Saturday 17 December 2005, 14:31 Makka Time, 11:31 GMT  

Israel has said that a victory for Hamas in Palestinian parliamentary elections would set the region back 50 years....

Foreign Ministry officials said on Friday that if Hamas were to become a dominant force in the Palestinian leadership, it would mean an end to the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians....

Yes, a complete shock to everyone:

May 10, 2005

Israeli defense minister says pullout will occur, even if Hamas wins vote

Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip will not be called off under any circumstances, the defense minister said Tuesday, rebuffing suggestions by the foreign minister that the pullout should be canceled if the Hamas militant group wins Palestinian parliamentary elections...

Oh, yes, we should definitely elect this woman president. Don't we all want a third Bush term -- four more years of "The dog ate my al-Qaeda briefing, so I had no idea they wanted to fly planes into towers"?