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 Bush in Free FallPosted on Jul 24, 2007
At what point will President Bush finally grasp the enormous disaster that the neoconservatives, from Vice President Dick Cheney on down, have visited upon his presidency? Or, to put it numerically, just how does a president descend from a 92 percent approval rating one month after 9/11—the highest of any president since modern polling began—to the two-thirds disapproval score that has stalked him through the last year, thanks to the Iraq debacle, without getting the message? Two major polls released this week show that the vast majority of Americans grasp the salient lesson of the Iraq misadventure: “Winning” this war has nothing to do with winning the war on terrorism. Thus, the public overwhelmingly supports the congressional Democratic leadership’s demand that the administration begin concrete steps to extract U.S. troops from Iraq. This week’s New York Times/CBS poll found that two-thirds of those polled said that the war is “going badly” and that “the United States should reduce its forces in Iraq, or remove them altogether.” Meanwhile, a Washington Post/ABC survey reported that, “by a large margin, Americans trust the Democrats rather than the president to find a solution to a conflict that remains enormously unpopular.” According to the Post poll, more than six in 10 Americans want Congress to make the final decision about when our troops come home. Even a majority of Republicans judge Bush to be too rigid to change course and, significantly, among those who either served in Iraq or had a close friend or relative who did, only 38 percent approve of Bush’s handling of the war. In an important rebuke to those Democrat “centrists” afraid to vigorously challenge Bush on the war, about half of those polled criticized the Democrats for doing “too little” to challenge Bush’s war policy. How much courage will it take for wavering Democrats and Republicans to come out forthrightly in favor of ending a war that the majority of Americans believe is not worth fighting? At first, the public, driven by false claims of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction and ties to al-Qaida manufactured by the neocon cabal that dominated the administration, bought into Bush’s claims that the Iraq war was an essential battle in the war on terrorism. At a time when even respectable news organizations were spreading such falsehoods as unquestioned truths and most Democrats in Congress displayed the independence of mind of cheerleaders, it was no wonder that initial support for the Iraq war was nearly unanimous. Fully 90 percent of Americans backed Bush one week after the first bombs fell in a “shock and awe” campaign that neocon ideologues at the Pentagon were convinced would lead a terrorized population to embrace democracy and other purported Western values. As Winston Churchill once observed, a lie gets halfway around the world before the truth puts its pants on. But the truth eventually does catch up, and that is the specter that now haunts our president. There is simply no plausible national security argument for the United States’ ongoing occupation of Iraq. That fact was driven home Tuesday when American and Iranian negotiators met for the second time in Baghdad at the insistence of Iraq’s Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who was quite clear that peace will not come without the Iranian government’s cooperation. The harsh reality that the United States must now enlist the support of Iran, the “rogue nation” that Bush claims threatens us with nukes, which this very week was once again accused by the U.S. ambassador of supplying arms to Iraq’s anti-American Shiite militias, underscores the folly of this disastrous escapade. The regime change engineered by the neocons vastly extended the power of the regime housed in Tehran and will only intensify with each additional day of the U.S. occupation. Yet, communication with Iran is a good thing, because Iranians at least have to live with the consequences of increased violence—as opposed to American politicians, who feel required only to muddle through to the next election. The Democrats and the few Republican dissidents are quite happy to make a show of their reservations about the war without actually ending it. The Democratic leadership in Congress is playing a risky game of pretending to be the party of peace without actually pursuing the budget-cutting measures that would force an end to the war.
While this opportunistic strategy may produce a temporary political advantage, it will be of slight comfort to the families of American soldiers killed and maimed in Iraq over the next 18 months, not to mention the hundreds of thousands of future Iraqi victims. Nor will it con a public that has turned solidly against this war and is determined to hold politicians responsible for ending it.
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By DWAYNE, August 2, 2007 at 12:52 pm # This President is completely out of touch with the WORLD, and how America should represent itself internationally. His agenda is obvious (oil, and make his cronies rich & distract the nation while doing it). He could care less about polls or people. He will say & do anything he wants and I mean anything. The sad part is, he knows that (his) congress will not impeach him or question his dictatorship control of our legislature. Let alone will they (congress) address his belief that the law does not apply to him and his Executive Branch. Congress was quick to allow him to trample our constitution, and is taking it’s sweet time in correcting (if ever) it’s mistakes. I pray for our future and or children, because of the chaos and pain he promotes, and the legacy he will leave. What goes around comes around and we Americans will eventually pay with another terrorist attack against us by homegrown or foreign groups. I hope the world will forgive us for his short sighted behavior and illegal deeds.
By jbart, July 29, 2007 at 8:03 am # His Presidential Legacy?? What a joke!! Unless SMU includes “the worst American President that ever served” in it’s planned GWB library, they are a sham calling itself a place of higher learning.
By diogenes, July 28, 2007 at 6:05 am # #90113 by Non Credo on 7/27 at 12:10 pm “Whether he knows it or not, Lefty is part of the problem. In a format like this website, his stupidities and contradictions are exposed and challenged. In an “antiwar” march, he would just blend in. So much for “action” and the vaunted “street”.” First, let me say, I have found I agree for the most part with your posts...however, your response to me is baffling. Both your response and mine in return, are largely out of full context; but, I have a question: You have in essence, completely negated the Viet Nam anti-war movement with a very broad stroke, with ridicule, I might add. Was this really your intent? Frankly, I didn’t care who walked by my side; we were after all, joined in a cause, the same cause I might add. At that time I didn’t care what else they believed. I don’t often agree with mainstream thinking, but, generally, I respect a person’s right to their opinion regardless of how repugnant it may be to me. Viva la difference! You demean the very thing that ultimately and finally ended the war. As one who was part of this movement it would seem a great insult, but, I find it difficult to think you meant it as such. A lapse in thinking perhaps? In any event, you have your opinion and I have mine. The street is more important than you realize. For you, I hope the day never comes when you regret not going to the street. Further, I will add that, I hope you are correct about this site…one of us is wrong, if it is me, then I have learned a good lesson too late.
By Skruff, July 28, 2007 at 5:58 am # “And you’re not going to tell me what to do, Lefty ....and, by the way, my name is not “godshit” ot “dogshit”, thanks.” “HE will also do it”! (DEFEAT SATAN and MELT his Zionist worshipers)” “Sounded more like Murdoch or someone else from Fox trying to give us “leftwing bloggers” a hard time! Hi ya, Rupert!” )”...Sickening ...DogShit is foaming at the mouth and coming in his pants...... Good little nazis like you just drop dogshit everywhere, like a beagle with diarrhea...” — which of you would that be here now — “...Clever. Ask me if I care...who DogShit is.” What clever political commentary. You folks must do a lot of reading.... I’m impressed.
By Inherit The Wind, July 28, 2007 at 4:04 am # GodSend on 7/27 at 8:34 pm DC: THE problem facing the world, is indeed the ‘rebellious house of Israel’, not Russia - and certainly not Muslims! Herzl’s Märchen of a Jewish homeland was a fairy tale that has turned into humanity’s nightmare. But that’s what the Devil intended - “the god of this world”. America’s, and therefore the world’s problem is that the ‘Protocols’ have been followed for MANY years (SEE! Benjamin Freedman’s 1961 and 1974 speeches) and all facets of America are now thoroughly infested by Zionists, crypto-Zionists, ZioChristians and sayanim in the thousands! The American populace has been victimized, de-moralized and brainwashed to a point where they are just about a land of 294,000,000 sheeple, ready for slaughter (not counting the 6,000,000 or so Semites, many of which have also been brainwashed). They have succumbed to the same Golden Calf which ‘did in’ Yahweh’s Chosen People again and again! It was and is, rebellion against God! Is there a Light at the end of this very Dark tunnel? Yes, there is - Thank God! “HE will also do it”! (DEFEAT SATAN and MELT his Zionist worshipers) smile Just WAIT and SEE! *************** There goes that nazi DogShit again--he’s now ONE step away from calling for a new Auschwitz to round up all the Jews for slaughter. Of course, he PRETENDS that he LOVES Jews, but only those that have accepted Jesus--but all the rest WHICH MEANS ALL THE JEWS IN THE WORLD! he calls “Zionists” and declares are Satan’s spawn. See, DogShit is a real nazi--as evil as Adolph Hitler. He’s EXACTLY the same as the Taliban who will beat a woman to death if she slips and falls and her ankle shows. That’s how DogShit thinks. DogShit is masturbating wildly at the thought of nuclear WMDs descending on Israel. And, of course, DogShit is not interested in the FACTS surrounding that other piece of dogshit, George W. Bush. He’s too busy publicly jerking off calling for the genocide of Israel.
By CaptainCanada, July 28, 2007 at 1:44 am # First off, let me say it is quite gratifying to see the level of debate and interaction taking place in this forum. Those of us outside of the United States usually only see America in the guise of the ‘official’ news agencies - CNN, FOX, ABC et al - which almost never display the type of critical news reporting that we here in Canada are used to and those in Europe take for granted. As for Godsend, you are right...Bush and Cheney will never get impeached. Impeachment, i.e. holding a President accountable for his actions, seems to be a foreign concept in American political culture - even though it appears on the statute books. One only has to go by history: Lyndon Johnson blatantly lied to the American people about the Gulf of Tonkin as an excuse to expand the war in Vietnam; Richard Nixon secretly started bombing Cambodia - a neutral sovereign country - without congressional approval; Reagan sold weapons to Iran and the contra rebels - breaking a congressional law....no impeachment in any case. Indeed, the only time impeachment really comes to the fore is when a President apparently violates social decorum - lying as Nixon did and getting a blowjob in Clinton’s case. Quite perplexing as a non-American. It came as no surprise to me that Bush II pardoned Libby. It only reinforced the idea that the President of the United States is above the law: not only is he not held accountable for his actions, he can also absolve his minions for theirs. I’m sure if Thomas Jefferson were alive he’d be marching on Capitol Hill with a musket. But it does remain surprising to me why Americans as a people do not get more irate. Here in Canada, the former government was found to have illegally subsidized the federalist forces in the last Quebec referendum on sovereignty. Even though the vast majority of Canadians are federalists, they still found the illegal support offensive and voted them out of power. Thus, I would expand Godsend’s remarks by saying impeachment won’t occur because most Americans either seem too apathetic or simply adhere to the notion that one must support their ‘Commander-in-Chief’ no matter what he does (as long as it does not violate social mores). As for Myronh, I was indeed implying the Israeli domination of American foreign policy, but just because a politician happens to be Jewish does not make him or her automatically a Zionist. But it is nevertheless true that the American political system has been hijacked. One only has to look at your choices for President. The majority of Americans seem to be opposed to continued involvement in Iraq and seem to be in favour of a negotiated settlement with Iran. Yet the two main political contenders - Clinton and Giuliani - both favour staying in Iraq and attacking Iran. How did that happen? Again, only part of the explanation can be found in the domination of the political system by outside elements. The other part must be found in the American people,i.e., how do you let these things happen? As an outside observer - born in the USA to marine corps parents but raised in Canada - you simply seem too believing and trusting in authority. You need to take a page from the French and start burning cars in the streets. Cheese-eating surrender monkeys or no, at least they don’t let their government walk all over them.
By DennisD, July 27, 2007 at 9:59 pm # I’m not sure if “free falling” assumes that there is a bottom for Bu$h Inc. to reach or not but his particular free fall will end in January of 09, the country’s unfortunately will not. He’s been running up one hell of a bill and guess who’ll be paying it. Just like old times of Bu$h Inc.
By GodSend, July 27, 2007 at 8:34 pm # DC: THE problem facing the world, is indeed the ‘rebellious house of Israel’, not Russia - and certainly not Muslims! Herzl’s Märchen of a Jewish homeland was a fairy tale that has turned into humanity’s nightmare. But that’s what the Devil intended - “the god of this world”. America’s, and therefore the world’s problem is that the ‘Protocols’ have been followed for MANY years (SEE! Benjamin Freedman’s 1961 and 1974 speeches) and all facets of America are now thoroughly infested by Zionists, crypto-Zionists, ZioChristians and sayanim in the thousands! The American populace has been victimized, de-moralized and brainwashed to a point where they are just about a land of 294,000,000 sheeple, ready for slaughter (not counting the 6,000,000 or so Semites, many of which have also been brainwashed). They have succumbed to the same Golden Calf which ‘did in’ Yahweh’s Chosen People again and again! It was and is, rebellion against God! Is there a Light at the end of this very Dark tunnel? Yes, there is - Thank God! “HE will also do it”! (DEFEAT SATAN and MELT his Zionist worshipers) Just WAIT and SEE!
By eric swan, July 27, 2007 at 8:25 pm # OIL.
By eric swan, July 27, 2007 at 8:08 pm # I’ve read through this comment gargage and not once ecountered the word “OIL”. are you blind?
By Inherit The Wind, July 27, 2007 at 6:30 pm # They repudiated Jesus as their Messiah and have been in denial about it ever since. They are still seeking ‘the one’ who will now never come to free them. Add the holocaust experience, even second-hand, and that makes their case a very complex one. Oh give me a FUCKING BREAK! Jesus is YOUR god, not ours. That’s that kind of disrespect Jews have had to put up with for 2000 years. A bunch of guys, 100-300 years after he died, wrote a bunch of scripture they KNEW would agree with the predictions in Tanakh and said “See? He IS the Messiah!” They didn’t even get it right because the Messiah is supposed to be King of Israel on Earth, not spiritually. The funny thing, is that Jesus, if the scriptures are even partially true, was a very good and kind man who would WEEP at the evil, viciousness, hatred, intolerance, and violence done in his name--all things YOUR scripture says he preached against, particularly intolerance and hatred. I haven’t had any direct experience of such rudeness but I have noticed that I have been deliberately and totally ignored by some men wearing beards and 1940’s style hats (the Lubavitch). There is nothing spiritual about that. To me, they have more in common with the Taleban. Frankly, I don’t care for such behaviour in my own country from people who have recently, or relatively recently, migrated. How do you know they were Lubavitchers and not Satmar? What you saw were “Chasidim”, of which Lubavitch and Satmar are sects. In fact, Lubavitchers are usually the friendliest and MOST outgoing of Chasids and the ONLY Jews who proselytize, albeit only other Jews. But don’t worry: most Chasidim won’t talk to anyone who isn’t at least Orthodox. Doug, Read a little--you ain’t the one who’s earned the sobriquets “GodShit” and “DogShit”. You may be intolerant and ignorant of Judaism but next to DogShit you are a fine fellow! |
U.N. Envoy Heads to Burma With Urgent Relief Message
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