By Gene Lyons

Try this political pop quiz: Can you identify the presidential candidate promising “a fresh start after a season of cynicism ... a president who can unite this nation, a president who puts aside the endless partisan bickering that seems to gridlock our nation’s capital, a president who puts the people first, a president who lifts this nation’s spirits?”

Another clue: “I want you to understand that I can’t win without you. When you go out there and tell the folks where we stand ... when it comes to bringing people together to get things done, and you tell them that the core of this campaign is the inherent trust in the American people, I believe it doesn’t matter what political party they’re in. They’re going to come our way.”

OK, it’s a trick question. The candidate’s not Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, but Texas governor George W. Bush, as quoted by The New York Times in November 2000. Actually, “folks” should be a dead giveaway. It’s what poker players call Bush’s “tell,” a sure sign he’s blowing smoke.

But, yes, Obama 2008 sounds awfully like Bush 2000, especially when he wafts into high rhetorical mode, all moonbeams and lofty emotions. Exactly what compromises he’ll make with the guns, God and gays, bigger-wars/smaller-taxes GOP hardliners come 2009 – the same ones circulating e-mails falsely claiming he’s a covert Islamic extremist – Obama’s not saying.