Sunday, May 13, 2007

George Bush: A Really Bad Week

Alas, poor George. Life it tough, the bubble got burst, and the news of the week is worse. There are the typical stories of the week; these will be covered. But the more important part is the subtext of an ever-increasing view this is a failed presidency, the legacy is lost, and the Republican Party is doomed for a decade or more.

The Week's News

Retired Generals who served in Dubya's War are now airing commercials opposing the war in contested congressional districts - aimed at getting some wishy-washy reeps to shit or get off the pot on Iraq. The ads are hard-hitting, and mark the first time that generals who served in the war are going after BushCo and Neocons.

Meanwhile, the commander of U.S. forces in northern Iraq is not a happy camper. The problem is the Baghdad surge has pushed insurgents and mini-Saddams into neighboring provinces. Operation Whack-a-Mode continues unabated.



Army Maj. Gen. Benjamin R. "Randy" Mixon also said that the Iraqi government had failed to help the situation in the restive [Diyala] province and that it has been a hindrance at times by failing to support local army and police forces. Diyala borders Baghdad on the east, and violence in the province has grown as U.S. troop levels have been bolstered in the capital. ... The local government is "nonfunctional" and the central government is "ineffective," he said.

...

It is rare for an officer of Mixon's rank to publicly call for more troops. When Donald H. Rumsfeld was secretary of Defense, there was intense pressure on officers to not make such requests, even privately, according to officers who served in Iraq.

Mixon was withering in his criticism of the Iraqi government, saying it was hamstrung by bureaucracy and compromised by corruption and sectarian discord, making it unable to assist U.S. forces in Diyala.

Its easy to see why Mixon is pissed. While he was talking about local and provincial pols, the Iraqi Parliament is resisting BushCo's energy plan, went against BushCo on the security wall intended to separate Sunnis and Shias, is about to go on a two-month break, and had one session cut short this week when two Sunni lawmakers started throwing haymakers at each. Call it dysfunction junction.

On top of this, an active duty Lt. Colonel publicly criticized the brass in the running of the war. (That criticism didn't occur this week - his article was published three weeks ago - but these incidents only add to the fact that Dubya isn't listening to his generals. If Dubya was listening to his generals, he might actually feel some level of confusion and nuance about how to proceed with the war. No, Dubya is resting happy inside his little bubble.


Back in the capitol, a remarkable meeting occurred Tuesday.



The [Tuesday][T]he meeting between 11 House Republicans, Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, White House political adviser Karl Rove and presidential press secretary Tony Snow was perhaps the clearest sign yet that patience in the party is running out. The meeting, organized by Rep. Charlie Dent (Pa.), one of the co-chairs of the moderate "Tuesday Group," included Reps. Thomas M. Davis III (Va.), Michael N. Castle (Del.), Todd R. Platts (Pa.), Jim Ramstad (Minn.) and Jo Ann Emerson (Mo.).

"It was a very remarkable, candid conversation," Davis said. "People are always saying President Bush is in a bubble. Well, this was our chance, and we took it."


That's really quite amazing, a reep congressman talking to the Washington Post about the "Bush Bubble." And it really appears that bubble was burst - at least for a time. After all, Cheney was in Baghadad - he couldn't protect poor, poor sensitive Dubya.

A number of reeps are now talking about reassessing the Iraq situation in September. That's when General Petraeus gives an assessment. Moderate reeps and other reeps scared shitless about the 2008 elections could start jumping off BushCo's ship. That's less than a Friedman from now.

As for the democrats, they are heaping on the pressure. The odds of Dubya getting a "clean" war spending bill appear dimmer by the day. Senator Clinton is taking a run at de-authorizing congressional approval for the war. The dems likely won't win any specific battle since BushCo does wield the veto pen. However, the dems can skillfully makes the reeps pay a price with a painful series of votes on the war. As the war continues to go down the toilet, the votes will be harder and harder and harder.

As for other news in the capitol, there really isn't any. The Iraq War has completely sucked the oxygen out of any domestic initiatives. The only domestic activity I can see is the continued drip, drip, drip of Republican corruption in Congress and the White House.


Bush's poodle - Tony Blair - is just about history. This can't mean good things for Britain's continued involvement in the war, held together almost completely by the force of Blair's will alone.

Finally, BushCo got a kick in the balls today when the big Central Asian natural gas pipeline will go through Russia - and through Central Asia as BushCo had fervently hoped. This is yet another example where BushCo's ham-handed attempts to increase influence and power drive others away - running.

Maybe this week will be better for BushCo, but I wouldn't put any money on it. Its probably safe to say that BushCo hasn't won a single week politically since the week Dubya put the plan to privatize Social Security on the table.

12 comments:

Daniel Hoffmann-Gill said...

Bush's treatment of the Queen was pretty bad...

As for Blair, he'll stick around and Brown who'll take over will follow a similar war path but with a tight timetable.

Ron said...

Hi Daniel,

Thanks for commenting. I forgot at least one other development - that is impeachment may not be on the table, but its in the fridge. IIRC, four house members have now signed onto the proposal to impeach Cheney.

Suzie-Q (S-Q) said...

Hi Ron!

Nice blog! :) I am going to add your blog to my blogroll.

Bush has no class at all. He is a failure at everything!

Suzie-Q (S-Q) said...

P.S.

Could you please add my blog to your blogs links? Thanks! :)

Larry said...

Bush's bad week unfortunately end up being America's nightmares.

Everything this crudgeon of corruption does has adverse reactions on the American people.

Ron said...

Hi Suzie,

Thanks for the note and adding me to your blogroll! Did you know I've had your blog up a few weeks ago.

--Ron

TomCat said...

There is only ONE week, bad enough for Bush: the week he is impeached.

Real_PHV_Mentarch said...

Great run down, Ron!

But you forgot one teansy tiny bit: the Iraqi paliament is considering legislation which will call for a deadline in the withdrawal of US toops (without a peep from the MSM) ...

What will Da Commander Guy ever do?

Real_PHV_Mentarch said...

Doh!

I just saw that you posted about the Iraqi parliament a couple of days ago - never mind ... ;-)

Anonymous said...

But on the other hand, at least one of the generals that made a commerical got fired by CBS. That's gotta warm the cockles of Bush's heart.

FunkyTown Fighter said...

Not only has it been a bad week for Shrub, It's been a HORRIBLE 7 1/2 years for Americans! Great Post!

CHUQ said...

He did have a bit of good news--He found a sucker to be the war czar. A fall guy fell into his lap.