Fiddling on the balcony

It started with the moonbats, who were convinced Bush was Hitler. We laughed. Nothing to see, move along.

Next it was the rank and file Democrats. They supported the hunt for Osama in Afghanistan (for the most part) but after Iraq derailed it wasn't entirely shocking when they developed collective amnesia about terrorism and Saddam. After all, they wanted their power back because way too many social issues were at stake.

Then came the Independents and some moderate or liberal conservatives. This included some from the religious right and many old line Republicans who didn't like the idea of a "pre-emptive war" (not a "just war") and wanted more diplomacy or realpolitik. A Reagan approach to Lebanon, in other words. This wasn't altogether shocking either, although the level of ire from some of the Bush 41 cabinet members was a little surprising.

Along the way there were various ex-cabinet members and other former administration officials who left and wrote books. They said harsh things, but hey, they were shown the money. There was Dubai Ports World and Harriet Myers, Katrina and Terry Schiavo, Abu Ghraib and GTMO, secret wiretaps and secret prisons. Pretzels. But we laughed because Kerry still couldn't beat him.

Now we have the immigration issue. Actually we've had it for years. Today Bill Kristol, noted neocon and Bush backer, dropped the hammer over the Decider's agnosticism over whether to pardon Scooter. He wrote:

So much for loyalty, or decency, or courage. For President Bush, loyalty is apparently a one-way street; decency is something he's for as long as he doesn't have to take any risks in its behalf; and courage--well, that's nowhere to be seen. Many of us used to respect President Bush. Can one respect him still?

But that was tame compared to a noted Milblogger a few days prior, who really let it all hang out:

Message To The Left: I'm not saying you should impeach him, I'm just sayin', you know, go with your hearts.

This was contained in a post about how the Wall Street Journal and National Review were at each other's throats over what else, immigration. Then there's Peggy Noonan. You've probably already read about her.

Where are the speeches? Where is the love for his supporters who've wasted countless hours defending him on websites, message boards, blogs and talk radio? What happened to Tony Snow and if Rove is still there, why? His advice sucks.

We've got a country full of 9/11 Truthers, North American Unioners, Free Trade haters, Open border lovers and Obamarama just told us the blacks are in silent revolt, which is presumably only one step away from actual revolt. Things seem to be moving towards "out of hand" while Bush seems to be fiddling on the balcony.

He needs to get on TV and tell us why the immigration bill is necessary, for example, with emphasis on why it's ethical to keep his hands off the Libby case while not advocating jail time for the millions of undedicated people who've crossed the border without papers. Tell us again what might happen if we leave the Middle East as we've done countless times. Draw us a picture. And set the damn troofers straight once and for all. It's leadership time, Presidential Dude.