pam (mail):

It doesn't matter who he nominates, to the Democrats, anyone to the right of Alan Dershowitz will be pilloried as a wingnut
- amen to that! After today's non-indictment I think we will see a more ballsy POTUS!
10.28.2005 10:54am
Mark Adams, the high and mighty, hypocritical, bloviator. (mail) (www):
So fucking full of yourselves. Gawd!

Wasn't it you guys touting the number of Democrats who voted for Roberts? Not one Senator, GOP or Dem, asked for Miers' withdrawal, only the wingnut whack-job punditry. Frist can count, and let Bush know what the "up or down bote" would be after the hatchet job done on Miers by the GOP base.

Bush already has 96% of his judicial nominations approved, and the Dems even compromised on a couple far, far right wing judges.

Just whose base are acting like "obstructionist assholes?"

But you've got your mind-set and talking points. Don't let facts get in your way from spewing a good rant.

And as for the "non-indictment." This is the first time in 136 years a top White House official has been indicted. Don't forget that as an advisor to the President, Libby is (was) not only Cheney's CoS, but also an officially titled Presidential advisor.

And don't forget that he's indicted for nothing less than what got Clinton impeached -- and the underlying actions about which Libby has been accused of attempting to cover up are far worse than a sexual liason or a botched burglary.

And this is surely just the beginning. Don't fall into the trap of being cavalier about the nature of protecting national security assets as the White House apparently was. That's serious and serious damage was done.

POTUS will be ballsy like any caged animal, but he'll remain in that cage for all time. That's his legacy.
10.28.2005 1:47pm
pam (mail):

Not one Senator, GOP or Dem, asked for Miers' withdrawal, only the wingnut whack-job punditry.
- you mean the wingnuts that vote these people back into office?
10.28.2005 2:03pm
Alex (mail):
I think this will all be water under the bridge as Bush's Republican world crumbles around him. Don't get me wrong, I'm not hoping it will happen, but I believe firmly he is in for a quick and mighty demise. He is running scared, Rosemary. There's no way in hell he's working from a place of power to nominate anyone for anything. I mean, we Democrats certainly are known for our whining and hand wringing, absolutely! But the Republicans in this House are beginning to be known for things just as harmful: Gluttony, and Thievery.

A place of power? Oh dear. I think you're in for quite a shock in the next year if you really believe that.

It's a little scary, but remember, I said it.
10.28.2005 2:49pm
Sandi (www):
"Their base demands that they act like obstructionist assholes and they will continue to comply. That's why they will not make any gains in 2006 and most likely lose seats."

Rose while I agree with most of your post, I believe that the Democrats have a very good chance to pick up seats in 2006. Most people don't pay as much attention to day-to-day politics like bloggers and their readers.

Once in power the Republicans joined in a feeding frienzy with Democrats, spending our tax dollars as would make any Democrat proud. The people are not going to forget that. More that 14,000+ slices of pork. Both sides are responsible for the gluttony, but the party in power gets the credit/blame. The Highway Robbery Bill should be completely rewritten to save money for Katrina and Rita.

But spending isn't my big issue for 06 and 08, illegal immigration and National security are. Neither party will do a damn thing about it, in fact they encourage illegal immigration because the government profits from it as much as business.

In 1999 the Clinton administration at least collected $3.69 million in fines from 890 companies for employing undocumented workers. In 2004 the Bush administration collected zip, nadda, null in fines from any companies employing undocumented workers.

Sorry for getting off topic with the last part.
10.28.2005 3:54pm
Steven Malcolm Anderson 4 GodsSelfSex (mail) (www):
If President Bush doesn't have the spine to stand up to the Democrats who, so deservedly, lost the last election and keep his promises to the people who voted for him, will he have the guts to stand up to our enemies abroad, the ayatollahs who will threaten us with nuclear weapons?

The Democrats want somebody on the Supreme Court who will rubber-stamp their agenda to enslave the doctors, confiscate the guns, abolish all rights of property and inheritance (see Kelo, also see Karl Marx), and censor all Politically Incorrect speech. If the Democrats want such a nominee, then let them win a Presidential election (God forbid!). Since President Bush and the Republicans won instead (thank God!), they are the ones who get to decide who gets to sit on the Supreme Court.

At the very outset, Bush promised to appoint another Thomas or Scalia. Myself, I must say that I would welcome another Thomas but would oppose another Scalia. But at least another Scalia would be more worthy an opponent than some non-descript candidate Bush chose in order to appease the Democrats.

I must add that it is imperative that we prevent the Democrats from seizing control of Congress in the next election. If they do, not only will they socialize everything in sight, they will cut and run in Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, and everywhere else and stab us in the back in order to appease the U.N.O.. A "soft, sensitive" War On Terror indeed! That means surrender and the destruction of our great nation. Vote Republican!
10.28.2005 4:54pm
Alex (mail):
Steven

Although I have to say, I do agree with some of your points, I reiterate:

Tick.....tick....tick.....
10.28.2005 5:16pm
Ara Rubyan (www):
Rose:

Please answer my question! Strong or weak?

P.S. I began your post and found myself disagreeing more and more with each passing sentence until I finally found one statement I agreed with: "History remembers winners fondly."
10.28.2005 6:31pm
Rosemary, Queen of All Evil (mail):
I said in my opening that Bush thinks he's strong, so he is acting from a position of strength. It doesn't matter that you or anyone else thinks he's weak, it's what he believes that counts.


Mark,

Yeah, Libby is indicted for lying. He, like Clinton will stand trial (Clinton's trial was in the Senate vis a vis the impeachment), my guess is that unlike Clinton he won't get away with it. Plus, he's already unemployed. So?
10.28.2005 8:03pm
Ara Rubyan (www):
It doesn't matter that you or anyone else thinks he's weak, it's what he believes that counts.

You are so wrong it's unbelievable.

What matters in Washington, what has always mattered inside the Beltway, is the perception of strength. And, believe me, if Congressman Foghorn (R-BF Egypt) feels free to take potshots at the CinC, something is very, very wrong and you can be sure that Bush is in trouble.

He badly needs another win right now. He needed one and he got it with Roberts. Now things are even worse, with the Miers debacle.

Does he energize the base with a wingnut like Judge Alito (who is nicknamed "Scalito") or Janice Brown? Or does he try to do what he did before (in your words) -- work with the Dems? Be aware that it wasn't the Dems that deep-sixed Miers. It was the wingnuts.

The other thing is, Ro, this isn't Clinton during Lewinsky -- in those days Clinton's approval ratings were stratospherically high. This time around, Bush's approval ratings are in the toilet and circling the drain. It's the wingnuts who are keeping his nose above water (so maybe he nominates another wingnut after all). People around the country understand all of this. They're not stupid, they're smart -- and their Congressmen are getting an earful, trust me.

Bottom line: when Clinton said he's going back to do the work of the American people, a cheer went up. When Bush says it now, there's a collective cry of "Oh, nooooooooo!"

Wake up, Rosemary -- It's time for school!
10.29.2005 12:42pm
jane m:
Ahem, as Sandi said the typical American is not going to remember Harriet Miers anymore than they remember the Clinton cabinet nominees who didn't get confirmed because they didn't pay their social security taxes for their maids and nannies back in 1993. A year from now no one will remember who Miers was (except the campaign speech writers and they will find little milage from that "debacle")

Voters will remember next year the Iraqi war, Katrina (but not so much as the LLL would like), health care insurance, taxes and last but NOT least the state of the economy. Whether Bush is strong or weak is based on "perception" as our leftie contributors point out.

The Dems could capitilize on perceived weakness but are they smart enough to do so? If they keep lurching left, can't come up with some believable middle-class issues (that would not include SSM, national health care or aligning with failing labor movement groups), then in 2006, they won't gain numbers in Congress or Governorships. I'm not expounding where I stand on any of these issues. I'm just trying to look at the political landscape.

Sandi is so right. The ordinary voter isn't countin' beans and when it comes time to vote, the winning side will have campaigned on issues that Americans can figure out without being poli-sci majors or arm-chair historians. Only a few of us are spending time on the net and keeping up with the day to day silliness that goes on in the halls of governance. Plame-gate isn't gonna get much milage either. And whether Halburton is getting contracts does not resonate. Nobody in my office who talks about politics expresses any interest in Halburton, Scooter Libby, or Valerie Who?

Stealing from Ara - IJS
10.29.2005 10:48pm
pam (mail):

When Bush says it now, there's a collective cry of "Oh, nooooooooo!"
- The left is that worried?
10.30.2005 5:59am
Ara Rubyan (www):
Yep -- the left and all the rest of us who disapprove of the job he's doing, which the last I looked was about 55% of us.
10.30.2005 5:57pm
pam (mail):
you mean 55% of 600 people?
10.30.2005 6:49pm
Ara Rubyan (www):
It's science, baby. Deal with it.
10.30.2005 9:01pm
Ara Rubyan (www):
Think about it -- do you really have to eat the whole pot of stew to know what it tastes like?
10.30.2005 9:01pm
pam (mail):
Ha HA that is hilarious to watch you reach at straws.
10.31.2005 7:24am
Steven Malcolm Anderson 4 GodsSelfSex (mail) (www):
Many of those who disapprove of the job Bush is doing think he should be more hawkish.
11.1.2005 1:09pm