[Carry_Okie]

If Carl Rove was such a genius, this would have happened a LONG time ago.

[1rudeboy]

Republicans learn to defend themselves. Again.

[onevoter]

Amazing, isn't it that the "strong on defense" party can be such wimps when it comes to fighting back against the "let's get along with every murderous dictator in the world but destoy every Republican with lies and slander" style Democrats?

[Patriot from Philly]

Great post. Explains a lot of what was happening. They stuck with the flawed strategy too long and now need to reverse the downward slide in public opinion.

One thing I'd like to see is a return to the Bush of immediate post 9/11...clarity. Don't praise people who undermine him and our war effort.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

Bush has an instinct for letting his political opponents show their hands.

He reminds me of Nixon, the poker player.

I predict that by midterm elections 2006, Bush and the Republicans will be flying high again.....troops will be leaving Iraq and the economy will continue to boom at 4% GDP.

[Dustbunny]

All I can say is

IT IS ABOUT DAMN TIME.

[MizSterious]

What on earth were they thinking? The 'Rats are like AlQaeda: they view politeness and manners as weaknesses to be not only taken advantage of, but despised. People like these respect only one thing: power. Do not confuse "respect" with "like"--they are not the same.

[Fielding]

Perhaps all of this was a ploy by the President to draw the opposition party into taking a flaccid position.

In my mind, the Democrats/MSM now look very much like the "Sunni rejectionists" President Bush referred to in his Annapolis Speech.

[lexington minuteman 1775]

The number one thing the President needs to learn from this and folks like Limbaugh have been saying for eons. If you make nicey nicey with Democrats, they never reciprocate, they attack. So move forward. Defend your position Mr. President and the American people will follow. It is that simple.

[SIDENET]

Dumbest political strategy ever.

What the Hell were they thinking?

[angkor]

The nonpolitical strategy was a failure. Democrats picked up on none of his overtures.

Oh, yes they did. Each and every one.

They simply rejected them.

Is GWB getting "go along to get along" advice from GHWB II?

[Peach]

This is an interesting explanation for why the president let support for the war fall so dangerously and sadly low. Rove must have been more distracted that we thought because we haven't seen many mistakes like this one made by the administration.

[Popman]

The nonpolitical strategy was a failure. Democrats picked up on none of his overtures. Once they began a campaign of accusing Bush of lying to the country about prewar intelligence to justify invading Iraq--an impeachable offense--Bush abandoned the strategy. The pivotal moment came after nine months of unanswered charges by Democrats

This proves one thing: The Democrats have the same mindset as the terrorist. Any non response is perceived as a weakness.

[Zack Nguyen]

And so did his willingness to reject cues from his conservative base of supporters and to offer, in public concessions, to compromise with his opponents.

How many times must Republicans learn the lesson that their enemies despise them? That we must remain always on the offensive?

[Hildy]

Yea, I'll believe it when I see it.

[shield]

If we allow the left to dictate Iraq...we'll have another NAM...we won every battle there, but the early pull out is the why of NAM.

[hinckley buzzard]

Bush had made a conscious decision after his reelection to be "nonpolitical" on the subject of Iraq

This is unbelievable. To even consider that he could lead a "nonpolitical war" with an opposition full of rabid snarling dogs snapping their jaws at his neck?

Much as I love and respect George Bush, he has some peculiar gaps in his thinking process--much as his father did for that matter. They both seem to have blind spots when it comes to perceiving the viciousness of their enemies. This might be euphemized as wanting to believe in and see the best in people, but it is not a virtue. It is a defect in judgment.

[cgbg]

The old saying in DC is "if you want a friend get a dog".

W needs a stable of attack dogs that bark and bite. :-)

[knews_hound]

This is going to get interesting.

It is my opinion that the Dems are going to soon be forced into doing a 180 on Iraq. That the White House is now actively defending itself is not just encouraging but a sound strategic move as well. Things are about to chance in Iraq, and the Dems have positioned themselves on the wrong side of the issue.

Can they change? Will the MSM let them pull it off? Will Rove capitalize on the flip flop?

Stay tuned. Time will tell...

Cheers,

knews hound

Latest Article "Cutting them off at the knees"

[manwiththehands]

The Left's cynical and hateful attacks and accusations (Bush 'lied') needed a response when they first started. Now that Bush is finally getting around to it it seems disingenuous. I'll wait and see where he takes it.