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.

[Howlin]

It's past time to take off the gloves.

[Diogenesis]

"I just wondered who you were supporting; you sure have been trashing the sitting POTUS a lot."

Utter BS. Send me that list proving I trashed President Bush 'a lot'.
Then share whatever it is that you're smoking.

[Indy Pendance]

I guess you'd be happier with Gore or Kerry. You know, the media would support them if that was the case.

[Lancey Howard]

Hillary Clinton, if she is the rat candidate in '08, will bring out the largest vote total in history for a Republican candidate. My 45-year-old brother and his family (serious born-again Christians) voted for the first time in their lives in 2004 because of their fear that John Kerry might get elected.

I can barely imagine the awakening that a Hillary candidacy would cause.

[Joe Boucher]

I agree unfortunately.
Wasted on nothing.
Failed to push any of the conservative agenda that got him to the presidency.
Not even a push for a ban on partial birth abortion. Spendt money like crazy. Grew govt like it was worth something. Failed to do a thing about securing our borders. Allowed 15 or 20 million illegals to stay and leach off the American tax payer.
I can go on but lets just say I'm disappointed in Mr. Bush.

[Indy Pendance]

I was so disillusioned by the type of comments posted on fr lately, but then I thought, the tone of FR has changed dramatically, and if you look at the posters who are at the root cause, most of them are from 2004 era or later. I'm not going to just ignore them anymore. They are stealth trolls, they have no clue how government works and they are trying to 'pretend' to be conservatives, but really, they are the enemy.

[Lancey Howard]

ever since he bragged about his "political capital" after the 2004 election

You got a source for that claim, Bunky?

[Indy Pendance]

She's a troll.

[FlipWilson]

Well, it simply can't be said that Bush is sailing along. Quite the contrary, the ship (his administration) is on the rocks. He has certainly shunned many conservative principles and appears, appears ready to capitulate. Then again, he probably is not conservative and is more country club.

Having said that, I can clearly remember conservatives (such as myself) abandoning Bush Sr. for waivering (breaking the no new taxes pledge) as his son is showing signs of doing now. But I also remember that after a few years of Clinton, even with a Republican Congress, I was longing for the days of Bush Sr. and the honor he brought to the office.

Bottom line, as bad as things are, I would rather have Bush than Clinton or some other democrat to go with this lovely new congress.

[Diogenesis]

The problem is that the Rats cheat and count the 'votes' of the dead, the unborn, illegal aliens, and felons;
not to mention they use multiple votes.

[Indy Pendance]

So, you believe the msm and the polls, or do you believe reports from the "reliable sources" such as the generals and military from the front lines? You fair weather democrats need to get a clue. Another class of 2004 reporting opinion as fact.

[Indy Pendance]

Don't forget the msm in their back pocket.

[LibLieSlayer]

Amen... it is growing really old, really quickly.

LLS

[LibLieSlayer]

:-)

LLS

[vetsvette]

""ever since he bragged about his "political capital" after the 2004 election""

"You got a source for that claim, Bunky?"

I actually listened to his boast, but since you obviously didn't listen to his post-election speech at the time, you might check his own web site for verification of what he said -- Uh, Bunky.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/11/20041104-5.html

[andy58-in-nh]

You miss the point.

Al Gore is a left-wing fantasist, armed with the passion of an Aztec priest and the imagination of a Soviet telephone operator. John Kerry...is just the opposite.

I admire George Bush because he is normal: honest, patriotic, and grounded in fundamental human decency. I expected him to treat his SOD accordingly, and was disappointed to see him offer a casual sacrifice to those for whom no single sacrifice will ever be enough. Understand now?

[Gator113]

There sure is. One no longer needs to check out DU anymore, their attitude and thoughts can be found right here, even by some that joined this outfit back in 98.

Oh well, in a couple of years, President Bush will be out playing on his ranch or fishing some brook wile drinking a cold glass of fresh lemonade.....but the bugs that failed to support him and our Troops...... will still be bugs.

[Indy Pendance]

Do you notice a pattern here? Every poster who is better than the president doesn't run for office.

[Uncle Miltie]

"And conservatives are not exempt from flinging it just as much as the left."

I'm in a flinging mood. There's not a real man left in Washington. Just a bunch of over-bred nancy boys.

[Indy Pendance]

Yep, and we'll have a dem president, and Iraq will have gotten 'magically' better under a dem's control. the media will fawn, praises will be constant, and Bush will be the evil president who made the 'dems' correct his evils.