Bending the Third Rail
Because We Should, We Can, We Do
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Right On
Froomkin nails it:
As Washington journalists debate whether to call President Bush's plan to send 20,000 more American troops into Iraq a "surge" or an "escalation," they are letting the White House get away with a much more momentous semantic scam.

The White House would have you believe that Bush tonight will be announcing a new strategy. But from all indications, all Bush will be talking about -- yet again -- is changing tactics.
Yep. The strategry of propping up an untenable Iraqi government on an indefinate basis continues. The tactic of escalation is the only change occurring which will be merely throwing more bodies and money at an incorrectly diagnosed problem.

It really is astounding that Bush is pursuing an escalation. We just had an election that was largely about Iraq where his escalation policy was slapped down. Barely 12% of the population supports escalating and the generals are all against it. Bush, other than St. John and Joementum, is pretty much alone in his plan. Yet, a new brigade arrives in Iraq next week with most of the troops heading to Baghdad for some building by building guerilla fighting. And trust me on this, if the military does begin to make progress against insurgents/militia fighters, there's plenty of room in Iraq to play whack-a-mole.

It is really historic the degree of dictatorial power being exercised by this idiot who has zero respect for Democracy. Digby:
I think that we must be honest and admit that we aren't living in a real democracy anymore. Yes, it has the trappings of one. We hold elections and we petition our government and offices change hands. But it is so infected with spin and lies and the willingness of its leaders to deny the democratic spirit of the constitution at every turn that it no longer really functions as one.

It has never been more clear that the people are irrelevant in our system of government than it is at this moment. Fully 70% of the public disapproves of president Bush's job performance. Even more disapprove of his Iraq policy and a large majority believe it was a mistake to invade and occupy Iraq in the first place. 88% do not want this war war to be escalated. His party just lost a large number of seats in both houses of congress over this issue.

And yet this 30% president with 12% support in the country is going to exactly the opposite of what the country wants him to do and he will get away with it. Democracy? Not so much.
This is why Congress must act like a bulldog, aggressively challenging Bush and ultimately pursuing impeachment. To do otherwise is going to continue the political theatre. I'm not sure just how hopeful I am about that happening ......
Written at 2:14 PM by Greyhair.
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