Rats Leaving Sinking Ship

George Bush vetoed the supplemental appropriations bill and

Bush has given no indication of backing away from his demand for a "clean bill" with no withdrawal timetable.

In Congress today, meanwhile, Republican leaders adopted a strikingly different tone behind the public partisan jockeying, saying some agreement will have to be reached with Democrats and reached quickly. Senate Minority Whip Trent Lott (R-Miss.) said neither party can go into talks with absolute demands for what can and cannot be in the next bill.

"It's time to stop laying down these guidelines, saying it's got to be this, it's got to be that," Lott said.

Bush demonstrated extraordinary chutzpa again arguing "that lawmakers had substituted 'the opinions of politicians for the judgment of our military commanders.'" Bush did not mention that our current CentComm and Iraq commanders were promoted to fill the vacancies created when a politician named George Bush fired two military commanders who would not hide the fact that their judgment of the wisdom of the surge was different from his. Nor did he mention that the joint chiefs of staff were unanimously opposed to that policy imposed by a politician on military commanders.

Bush did argue that progress was being made in a way which clarifies matters

While the Baghdad security plan is in its "early" stages, he said, "we are seeing some signs that give us hope." He cited the capture of "a number of key terrorist leaders," the disruption of a car-bomb network and "a decline in sectarian violence in some areas of the capital."

Anyone over the age of 10 can understand what it means if the President of the United States has such weak evidence to support his claim that progress is being made.

Bush also argued that a deadline would "demoralize the Iraqi people" even though as huge a majority of Iraqis as of Americans support such a deadline. In my humble opinion, a foreign invader who ignores their opinions is more likely to demoralize the Iraqi people.

Still the important news is Bush's isolation. His best friends are abandoning him like rats leaving a sinking ship.

The article concludes with a debate about what Bush said 4 years ago

Perino said, "Look, I've never heard him describe it that way, absolutely not. Let me just remind everybody . . . the President never said 'mission accomplished.' [snip]

After arriving on the carrier deck wearing a flight suit and carrying a helmet, Bush stood below a huge banner saying "Mission Accomplished" and addressed the crew. "My fellow Americans, major combat operations in Iraq have ended," he announced. "In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed."

Jonathan Weisman, author of the immortal words "fuck Brad DeLong" is one of the authors of the article and is one of those rats.

If Bush has lost Jonathan Weisman he has the American people including the 30% who have been immune to reality so far.

Udate: Brad DeLong himself notes that I wrote too soon and that the rats have edited their article and are back on board.