I admit it: the videotape probably ended his campaign

I refer, of course, to the most damaging taped admission by a president since the Nixon era.

Let's allow The New York Times to relay the March 2012 incident. An open microphone happened to catch a private conversation between President Obama and Russian President Medvdev regarding America's missile defense shield.

“On all these [security] issues, but particularly missile defense, this can be solved, but it’s important for him to give me space,” Mr. Obama could be heard saying to Mr. Medvedev, according a reporter from ABC News, who was traveling with the president.

“Yeah, I understand,” Mr. Medvedev, the outgoing Russian president, said. “I understand your message about space. Space for you …”

Mr. Obama then elaborated, in a portion of the exchange picked up by the cameras and reproduced by news agencies: “This is my last election. After my election I have more flexibility."

“I understand,” Mr. Medvedev said. “I will transmit this information to Vladimir,” he continued, referring to Vladimir V. Putin, who won another term as president in an election this month.

The most transparent administration ever is, as Jim Geraghty observed, sending "[o]ne message to the voters at home, an entirely different message to leaders abroad."

To recap: a resurgent Russian empire -- ruled by a nascent dictator -- has been America's foremost enemy since 1945. And we have a president, who is already hollowing out America's defenses, secretly negotiating with those dictators behind America's back.

That, my friends, is the most shocking video of this election season.

November is coming.