W'S DRIFT TO IMPOTENCE

N Y Post ^ | December 6, 2006 | JOHN O'SULLIVAN

[Sabramerican]

JOHN Bolton's resignation as the American ambassador to the United Nations makes it official: The Bush administration is now drifting idly toward a mixture of centrism and impotence.

In less than a month, two of President Bush's stronger and more independent aides - Donald Rumsfeld and Bolton - have been dispatched. Rumsfeld's designated successor, former CIA head Robert Gates, is a leading member of the Beltway's permanent bureaucracy.

The administration seems to be waiting for the Baker-Hamilton commission of old Washington hands to dictate U.S. policy on Iraq. Leaks from the commission suggest it will recommend a gradual U.S. withdrawal camouflaged by negotiations with Iran and Syria over a new Mideast grand bargain.

All of this feeds an exaggerated defeatism in the United States over Iraq.

.....

Rumsfeld's abrupt firing was an act of flagrant disloyalty to a loyal subordinate. The defense secretary had made his share of mistakes - notably, his failure to crush looting immediately after the fall of Baghdad - but he had followed the president's policy faithfully.

.......

We don't know for certain the reasons for Bolton's departure: Either the White House wasn't prepared to fight for him, or he was no longer prepared to lend his voice to the diplomatic charade over Iran and North Korea. Either way, his departure demonstrates timidity on the administration's part. The net result will be that Bush has one less loyal subordinate in the shrinking ranks of his own administration.

[ZULU]

Yes, but I think by this time, most rational Republicans realize the emperor has no clothes.

[Mo1]

I know .. it just makes me sick because it didn't have to happen this way

[ARealMothersSonForever]

Your call. Simply giving credit where it is (way over) due. If you choose to light up and twist off, please send a ping before the thread gets ripped down. Such events are legendary ;)

[ZULU]

Thank you for that information.

I suppoose that reflects the level of intelligence of the BushBots which is probably lower than the "77 cum average" intellect of their cult idol.

[nopardons]

No, you are wedded to mythogrification of Reagan and distorting President Bush's factual accomplishments; whilst insulting and attacking those here who support him and still manage to see him as he is...warts and all.

[He Rides A White Horse]

The bots are still in denial.

Bots?.......I think my definition of 'bots' differs from yours.

Just more cult worship and incredibly, blaming the media, nazis, Birchers and fringe elements for their predicament.

Hmmmmm...........worth further debate (I think)

Amazing.

Yes........amazing; let's see where 'amazing' leads us.

[NinoFan]

Just the bearer of information here. I'm not going to get involved in the disagreement between you and texasforever.

[ZULU]

The discussion was not about the Islamonazis in our midst - people who should have been removed or interned by Mr. Bush immediately after 9/11, but about the inability of certain elements of the population to recognize the manifest failure of the current President in he domestic and foreign spheres and the catastrophic impact of having alienated his political base, as so cogently exemplified in the recent election.

[Howlin]

I always find that those who copiously cut and paste lots and lots of words have the least to say.

[nopardons]

AMEN !

[ZULU]

I recognize Bush's accomplishments - Roberts and Alito, the removal of the Taliban and the thus far successful foiling of terrorist attacks on America.

These are significant accomplishments.

However, his blunders with respect to illegal invaders and his failure to carry through with the military destruction of the terror states of Iran and Syria while getting bogged down in an experiment in nation building - something he promised not to do in the election, significantly eclipse his otherwise laudable accomplishments.

As for Reagan, he, like all people, had his faults. But he was fathoms above the current incumbent in his ability to connect with the average man, and in his intellect, which was substantial. Bush like his two opponents in both elections is a mental light weight.

And Reagan accomplished far more than Bush did and with a hostile Congress to deal with. Bush was Medicare at best, even with control of Congress.

[ZULU]

I understand that. No offense taken. I appreciate the translation. I'm not accustomed to the employment of such terminology.

You can judge a person's intellect by their vocabulary.

[He Rides A White Horse]

The discussion was not about the Islamonazis in our midst

...not originally anyway, but we'll address that.

people who should have been removed or interned by Mr. Bush immediately after 9/11,

Right; I'm sure that idea is feasible given the current state of the average citizen.

and the catastrophic impact of having alienated his political base, as so cogently exemplified in the recent election.

Agreed.

[ZULU]

I don't cut and paste my thoughts - they are mine.

Nor am I a mere echo for a shrinking personality cult.

[TAdams8591]

>i>"All of this feeds an exaggerated defeatism in the United States over Iraq."

Absolutely, I couldn't agree more. The recent democratic victory at the polls will be the undoing of the war in Iraq as I feared. With the imvolvement of people like Baker, not only will we fail to achieve victory in a war in which we can be utterly victorious, we will be doomed to failure.

Lately (just today in fact), I am hearing average people say this war is unwinable just like Viet Nam. The Democrats, once again, have created a self-fulfilling prophecy. Few senario's are more maddening.

[He Rides A White Horse]

However, his blunders with respect to illegal invaders

Illegal invaders......quite right; it appears that we may agree on more than we think.

[ZULU]

"Right; I'm sure that idea is feasible given the current state of the average citizen."

The damage has been done. He has alienated his base.

Had he done this right after 9/11 when the nation was angry and hot, he could have succeeded.

Instead, he permitted himself to be seduced by advisers, some of whom were Muslims themselves and at least one of whom later wound up exposed as an Al Quaida supporter. Had Bush been more of a history or social studies scholar, he would have realized how idiotic his reference to Islam as a peaceful religion was.

[He Rides A White Horse]

However, at the present time, we will be dealing with Islamo-friendly Hillary and Nancy the Vampire.

So, any debate should be framed in this context; it's what the next two years will bring.

[nopardons]

Your dishonesty knows no bounds, I see.

As much as I hate to do it ( I was and still AM a big Reagan supporter ), I guess I need to do it again; this time for your enlightenment.

Reagan.......lowered the tax classes, bit did away with most deductions and then raised taxes TWICE.

He cut and ran when our Marines got killed in Lebanon.

Nominated Sandra Day O'Connor for AFFIRMATIVE ACTION reasons and so that he would be remembered as the president who put the first woman on the SCOTUS.

Iran-Contra. Need I say more?

Reagan was a very good president; probably a GREAT one, but he did NOT do more for this country, nor was he more intelligent than President Bush the younger. Both presidents had/have their shares of flaws and both have flashes of greatness.

And FYI, president Bush couldn't and still can't just go and bomb and/or invade Syria and Iran for NO reason and without Congress' help. That is something you armchair warriors either fail to comprehend or just choose to ignore.

[TAdams8591]

The media has been pulling this crap since before Reagan. It's nothing new.