Something bizarre happened Wednesday--Bush admitted to lying about Rummy during his press conference. He even joked, saying it was the only way to get the reporter to move to the next question. Such a thing has not gone over well in some quarters as conservatives try to rationalize what just happened.
Like many other on the right I've been defending this administration during my cyber existence, both here and elsewhere. Much of my support is rooted in his resolve in fighting terrorism and on attempting a new paradigm in the Middle East in light of 9/11, since nothing else has worked, but doing nothing is not an option. It's also rooted in the notion that his detractors don't seem to understand the stakes, preferring instead to hide their heads and hum as the terrorists re-load, all the while insisting a greater cause for alarm is coming from our own churches.
Add to that the fact I also believe, like others, that Saddam Hussein doesn't get his due reward as a terrorist, a notion which made taking out his regime supportable, check that, essential. That mission was accomplished with flying colors but the mop-up was obviously not well planned.
Have you read Rick Moran's latest post yet? I have to say this doesn't surprise me. He's been the leading conservative voice against jumping on the partisan hate bus for some time now. I'm glad he's clearing his conscience, but somehow I think the upcoming reign of democrat rule might tend to steer his bus back to starboard very soon.
Some of his criticism is valid and worthy, indeed. I'll take issue with one of his points--the one about Bush not effectively using his bully pulpit in the face of massive pushback from the left and MSM. He cited Reagan as someone who was able to rise above that fray and get 'er done anyway, and of course he's correct. If Bush only had half the charm of Clinton or Reagan, support for our efforts overseas might be different.
But unlike Reagan or anyone else, President Bush faces the most organized and technologically advanced smear machine apparatus in history. He's largely met the tip of this sword with a butter knife, using old-style newspaper tactics while his enemies spread their message via the new media. The young voter turnout was near record for an off-year election.
I haven't looked, but anecdotal experience tells me that Bush didn't do well with this group. That is simply based on the wild popularity of You Tube, Loose Change and cable shows such as the Daily Show, Olbermann or Bill Maher. Perhaps enough of them were convinced of the coming Christo-fascist theocracy being engineered by a neo-dictator who planned 9/11 to benefit Halliburton and wants to take away their phone privacy or the right to use terminated fetuses as research fodder, while vigorously protesting the use of animals for such. Or perhaps they were just disappointed in the leadership like Rick. Whatever the case, Bush wasn't using the tools to connect with them.
Rick only brushed past immigration, but I think this issue kept some of the conservative base home or sent them to the Libertarians. We're told the Cinco de Mayo marches energized the Hispanic vote for the democrats and funneled some conservative Hispanics who previously supported repubs to the demo side. The rationale we're hearing goes this way--the mere suggestion the US Congress might actually enforce border law or punish people who've broken it enraged those of Spanish heritage.
Sorry, but that analogy sits about as well with me as a plate of Mexican food on top of a hot dog and washed down with a milk shake. As a person of unapologetic European heritage, if Germans, Irish, or Lichtensteinians were pouring across our borders unchecked I'd still feel the same about enforcing the damn law.
Or as the nutroots might say, "it's a rule of law issue, stupid".
But where was Bush on this? Nowhere. He made a few token appearances at the border, called for a fence (we think) and generally tiptoed around the whole thing while calling the Minutemen vigilantes. He'd get off the phone with Vincente Fox and hail bilateral success, then Fox would proceed to be quoted by the Mexican press saying the most ridiculous things said by a head of state prior to Chavez's visit to the UN. And Bush would not respond.
So what's next? Aside from the lie about Rummy (at least he admitted it--others would have continued to obfuscate) there were some high points in his press conference Wednesday, mainly in how he dealt with some of the reporters. But there will always be biased questions, it's the American people he needs to convince and energize.
Boiling this down, I'm not quite as torqued at Dubya as others, but happy is not a good descriptor, either. I continue to believe the alternative party is worse and will prove themselves of such within a short time. But, since Bush is the former owner of the Texas Rangers and like me a big baseball fan, permit me to close this with a baseball analogy.
The democrats just took a three run lead in the top of the seventh and sang with drunken joy during the seventh inning stretch. Their new relief pitcher, a guy named Rahm, just retired the repubs in order in the bottom half, helped in part by idiotic managerial moves; errors, both forced and unforced; and an obviously partisan umpiring crew. It's the top of the eighth and time for the prez to step to the mound and show some stuff. The mostly non-partisan crowd is beginning to join the smaller group of hard core bleacher boo-bums in their chants, but are still potentially there for him if he can throw strikes. And nobody is warming in the bullpen.
updated--you think Bush is bad, I couldn't even spell the made up word correctly.
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