Strain of Iraq war showing on Bush, those who know him say

USA TODAY ^ | April 2, 2003 | Judy Keen

[Timesink]

WASHINGTON

[Timesink]

This is today's cover story in USA TODAY. Ten bucks says the RATS try to negatively spin it. And twenty bucks says more positive war news completely buries their pathetic attempt.

[A. Morgan]

I don't care what the Democrats say or do, all that matters to me is praying for our President.

[MEG33]

I thought it was quite positive ..always excerps will be the most negative.I had to delay reading it as nowadays I'm getting ready for a hit piece.

[KeyWest]

It is a bout a 50/50 article with a bunch of garbage mixed with some truth. Par for USA Today, compared to the NYT which is truth 20/garbage 80.

The press has become Clintonized. They take a lie and repeat it over and over until it has the semblance of truth, like we are inflexible and staying with a flawed plan, a statement that permeates the article- to show Bush's supposed inflexibility. The plan must be flawed because we have not taken Baghdad in two days, supply lines stretched too thin, Iraqis are fighting back, and we have taken casualties. The same sort of garbage during the initial part of the Afghan War. Lemmings.

[Aeronaut]

Friends say the conflict is consuming Bush's days and weighing heavily on him. "He's got that steely-eyed look, but he is burdened," says a friend who has spent time with the president since the war began. "You can see it in his eyes and hear it in his voice. I worry about him."

Now that's what you want to hear about the CIC during a war. </disgust>

[MEG33]

Any president who goes to war and doesn't show strain is nuts.They did not say he wasn't doing his job or failing to take care of himself.Of course friends would worry .It's a job he can handle.

[EternalVigilance]

It is a bout a 50/50 article with a bunch of garbage mixed with some truth.

So, what is the 50% garbage in this piece? Can you point out even one falsehood or twisted perspective? Because I don't see it after reading it very carefully.

Looks like a very positive balanced account to me; one that jives with everything I know about the man and the organization around him.

IMO, it's the best window on the man I've seen in quite some time.

If I was Andy Card or the President, I'd be tickled pink this was coming out today.

[sd-joe]

If he reads all those stupid newspapers, it is no wonder that he is negatively affected. He should just read FR and leave it at that!!! :)

[EternalVigilance]

I think he does.

[Miss Marple]

I don't like this article much. There are some things in it that sound positive because we know the whole story. The negatives, however, are the following inferences:

Bush thinks he has a mandate from God (scary to all non-religious people)
Bush frets about his place in history (sounds like legacy, doesn't it?)
Bush is inflexible with the war plan (of course we know that the war plan itself is flexible, but this is an item to cause doubt in those who don't know that)
Bush doesn't joke and is sarcastic with staffers (makes him sound mean)
Bush is obsessed with following the war (makes him sound like Lyndon Johnson)

On the whole, I don't think this is a particularly good article, myself.

[Mr. Bird]

At the same time, some of his usual supporters are concerned by his insistence on sticking with the original war plan.

Well, that's a typically cynical sentence. Note the use of the word "insistence", as if he's just too darned stubborn to adapt. The problem with all this "war plan" talk, is that if you are not in this Administration or currently serving in the military, you have absolutely no idea what the war plan is. It is preposterous to think that Dan Rather, Peter Jennings, or even Barry McCaffrey can give an astute analysis of whether the "war plan" is succeeding.

[mhking]

They expected a detailed briefing, but the president told them he was notifying them only because he was legally required to do so and then left the room.

"The law says I have to tell you I'm about to do this. I'll talk to y'all later."

Works for me...

[mhking]

On the whole, I don't think this is a particularly good article, myself.

It's your standard hack job; a quick way to take a swing at the Prez...

[EternalVigilance]

Bush thinks he has a mandate from God (scary to all non-religious people)

None of those folks like him to begin with--in fact they hate him viscerally. But they are a minority.

Bush frets about his place in history (sounds like legacy, doesn't it?)

I didn't read it as fretting about his legacy. I read it as a reasonable acknowledgment that history is going to judge his actions. Just because Clinton sullied the idea of leaving a legacy, it doesn't mean the real thing is bad. I think the President has a very balanced perspective on this, and frankly, I think the reporter reported it accurately.

Bush is inflexible with the war plan (of course we know that the war plan itself is flexible, but this is an item to cause doubt in those who don't know that)

It says clearly in the article that he is willing to change if it is necessary, but that he believes the plan is going fine. Again, I think that is reasonable and accurate.

Bush doesn't joke and is sarcastic with staffers (makes him sound mean)

I think most every person reading this is going to come away with a picture of a normally very jovial man dealing with very serious times in a very serious way. A positive, in my view.

Bush is obsessed with following the war (makes him sound like Lyndon Johnson)

Again, I see a portrait of a man who is very much engaged in his job as Commander-in Chief. I don't smell a hint of Lyndon Johnson.

Amazing that two people who both support the President can read the same article and come away with such different perspectives on it.

Oh well, it's on the street now anyhow.

[dennisw]

Our President prays and exercises. Goes to bed by 10PM. There must be a lot for the libs to complain about here.

[EternalVigilance]

Well, certainly the piece is not perfect. But coming from this particular rag, at this particular moment in time, their use of the word 'insistence' is not exactly devastating.

[EternalVigilance]

Yeah, that's quite an inditement! LOL...

[EternalVigilance]

It's your standard hack job; a quick way to take a swing at the Prez...

I don't see it.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Mon Mar 31, 5:18 PM ET

 

[EternalVigilance]

That's a truly wonderful picture. Thanks.