The Vietnamization of Bush's Vacation (Frank Rich...nails it again!)

[jefferson_dem]

The Vietnamization of Bush's Vacation
By FRANK RICH
Published: August 28, 2005

ANOTHER week in Iraq, another light at the end of the tunnel. On Monday President Bush saluted the Iraqis for "completing work on a democratic constitution" even as the process was breaking down yet again. But was anyone even listening to his latest premature celebration?

We have long since lost count of all the historic turning points and fast-evaporating victories hyped by this president. The toppling of Saddam's statue, "Mission Accomplished," the transfer of sovereignty and the purple fingers all blur into a hallucinatory loop of delusion. One such red-letter day, some may dimly recall, was the adoption of the previous, interim constitution in March 2004, also proclaimed a "historic milestone" by Mr. Bush. Within a month after that fabulous victory, the insurgency boiled over into the war we have today, taking, among many others, the life of Casey Sheehan.

It's Casey Sheehan's mother, not those haggling in Baghdad's Green Zone, who really changed the landscape in the war this month. Not because of her bumper-sticker politics or the slick left-wing political operatives who have turned her into a circus, but because the original, stubborn fact of her grief brought back the dead the administration had tried for so long to lock out of sight. With a shove from Pat Robertson, her 15 minutes are now up, but even Mr. Robertson's antics revealed buyer's remorse about Iraq; his stated motivation for taking out Hugo Chávez by assassination was to avoid "another $200 billion war" to remove a dictator.

In the wake of Ms. Sheehan's protest, the facts on the ground in America have changed almost everywhere. The president, for one, has been forced to make what for him is the ultimate sacrifice: jettisoning chunks of vacation to defend the war in any bunker he can find in Utah or Idaho. In the first speech of this offensive, he even felt compelled to take the uncharacteristic step of citing the number of American dead in public (though the number was already out of date by at least five casualties by day's end). For the second, the White House recruited its own mom, Tammy Pruett, for the president to showcase as an antidote to Ms. Sheehan. But in a reversion to the president's hide-the-fallen habit, the chosen mother was not one who had lost a child in Iraq.

<SNIP>

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/28/opinion/28rich.html?ei=5089&en=91d8ac21cc31d02c&ex=1282881600&partner=rssyahoo&emc=rss&pagewanted=print

[Faygo Kid]

1. I went nuts today when he called for "more sacrifice"

What sacrifice? The sacrifice of sons and daughters of those who toil in the West Virginia coal fields, or attend poor schools in Houston? Will he call for rescission of the tax cuts to the rich? Is that his idea of "sacrifice?" Not a chance. Are the twins going to enlist? Are Mitt Romney's five sons going there to support the war their father supports? FDR's four sons all enlisted in WWII. Different war, admittedly, but not to GWB and his minions, who equate them constantly. What sacrifice? Frank Rich nails it again, and it is getting easier all the time.

[madeline_con]

2. Nails what? The piece sux.

:shrug:

[jefferson_dem]

5. He's nails the fact that the Dems need to grow some fucking gonads and

stop playing suck up to chimp and chief. Join Cindy. Give her voice credibility. Speak up and out against the disastrous war machine policy. Now's NOT the time for cheerleading! It's time for brutal honesty...a REAL patriotic battle cry!

:patriot:

[madeline_con]

9. The Dem's wuss factor isn't my fault....

I want Clark to be Prez. Hillary should stay home on nomination day.

We could use a little organization, but the guy's mucho critical of the Dem party. Is he a RWer?

[jefferson_dem]

11. We do need organization ... and some spirited leaders who will stand up

and demand real accountability for the iraq travesty, and do so without apology. Clark will have an opportunity tomorrow. He's on MTP, i believe.

The Party needs a kick in the ass from time to time, doesn't it?
That's part of what distinguishes us from the myrmidonic Repukes who march their jack-booted lock-step without EVER questioning.

LOL! Rich is no RWer. Far from it. Check out last week's dynamo piece on "the swift boating of Cindy Sheehan" -

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/21/opinion/21rich.html?n=Top%2fOpinion%2fEditorials%20and%20Op%2dEd%2fOp%2dEd%2fColumnists

[tom_paine]

15. Rich is no Bushevik, and he's 100% right-- the Dems need to grow some

balls (or tough-dfamned ovaries, if you wish) and FAST!

They continue to remind me of (with a few notable exceptions) the German Social Democrats of 1933.

Nobody likes someone who won;t stand up for themselves.

Sadly, this characterization fits the Dems to a tee for quite some time now.

[Democrats_win]

28. Still, its bush who's completely worthless. The Dems have no power.

Not that they deserve power because they too supported this fiasco.

Very depressing. I wonder if it won't take a new generation of Democratic leaders with real passion to re-establish our country.

[Loge23]

23. part of the problem...

are the Democrats. The Dems basically let Clinton twist in the wind. They offer no credible alternative to a fascist administration. The most prominent voice, Dean, was allowed to be muzzled for inciting the very type of enthusiasm that we need.
Register NP. Support fresh voices, with definite ideas. Not Repug-like wannabes who see the corrupt ruling party as a model.
Rich is correct. The Democrats are simply Repug patsies.

[Faygo Kid]

6. Be more specific. I think he's right.

Tell me why you think he's wrong. If it's about Cindy, he is right - she can't carry the rest of us forever.

[arikara]

25. I think it sux too. What's this all about?

Not because of her bumper-sticker politics or the slick left-wing political operatives who have turned her into a circus

He might have made some points but he's still spreading around the stupid neo-con rhetoric.

[speedoo]

3. He's wrong about at least one thing....

Cindy's 15 minutes are not close to being up. In fact she's got a lot more than 15 minutes.

[achtung_circus]

4. I don't know where I heard this, but I love it.

"Who keeps resetting the clock
On Cindy Sheehan's 15 minutes of fame?"

[Bozita]

14. sounds like it could have come from Bush (assisted by Karl Rove)

Tell me that Rich missed the target with this:

It isn't just Mr. Bush who is in a tight corner now. Ms. Sheehan's protest was the catalyst for a new national argument about the war that managed to expose both the intellectual bankruptcy of its remaining supporters on the right and the utter bankruptcy of the Democrats who had rubber-stamped this misadventure in the first place.

When the war's die-hard cheerleaders attacked the Middle East policy of a mother from Vacaville, Calif., instead of defending the president's policy in Iraq, it was definitive proof that there is little cogent defense left to be made. When the Democrats offered no alternative to either Mr. Bush's policy or Ms. Sheehan's plea for an immediate withdrawal, it was proof that they have no standing in the debate.

[bklyncowgirl]

18. What is wrong with that--it's the truth.

The Democrats in Congress have not come to anything remotely resembling a unified plan regarding the war.

Yes, Russ Feingold and Wes Clark to their credit have tried to get the ball rolling but by and large Democratic leaders have been silent.

[rodeodance]

21. perhaps new leaders will emerge?

[rodeodance]

19. good one.

[Faygo Kid]

7. Time to take it over for her. Past time.

No one person can carry this fight, any more than Rosa Parks carried the whole civil rights movement. Cindy does not deserve the weight of the world on her shoulders. We do. See you Sept. 24. And, I am holding my two Dem senators feet to the fire. I miss Paul Wellstone.

Frank Rich said, and I agree:

Ms. Sheehan's protest was the catalyst for a new national argument about the war that managed to expose both the intellectual bankruptcy of its remaining supporters on the right and the utter bankruptcy of the Democrats who had rubber-stamped this misadventure in the first place.

[cliss]

8. Thanks for posting, J.

The best part of this article is Bush's "never-ending new Milestones, new Beginnings, New Victories". It's all his way of eternally pushing the goal posts out of reach.

Whatever it is we're hoping for, it's always "Out there". Like the Rainbow. "Just go a little bit further, and you'll get the Pot of Gold". I promise you. Keep going.

A scathing article about Bush.

[NRaleighLiberal]

10. Frank Rich is amongst the VERY FEW shining lights in any sort of media -

Ellen Goodman, Molly Ivins, Bill Moyers, Daniel Shorr...who have I forgotten? Regrettably, the list of those who have fouled the reputation of journalism forever is many, many times longer.

[Captain Hilts]

13. Oliphant of the Boston Globe. (nt)

[The Icon Painter]

17. Another Good Man

Jay Bookman of the Atlanta Constitution was amongst the first to speak out without mincing his words or hiding behind euphemisms.

[GCP]

22. Helen Thomas

Doyen of the WH press corps who is now routinely ignored during questioning because she actually asks probing questions and doesn't back down.

[slor]

12. I like Frank...but...

He forgot about Feingold saying we should leave Iraq, and Cindy has been the catalyst to restart the original large Anti-War movement from before bush's folly, and as such, her time is not over.

On edit: He does mention Mr. Feingold.

[rodeodance]

20. yes, Sen. Feingold has started the process. some think his resolution

for complete withdrawal by end of 2006 is to far away--but I think it has got to start someplace.

[bklyncowgirl]

16. As usual an excellent article from Frank Rich

He nails Bush as usual but also goes after the do nothing Democrats who seem to think that somehow voters will flock to them if they just sit it out, hold their fingers to the wind and avoid saying or doing anything that might annoy anybody.

How hard is it to say, "We made a mistake in trusting the motives and competence of this president and his advisors." and start putting together a strategy to end this war and bring some sort of stability to Iraq.

[ginnyinWI]

24. Bush is pulling a "Nixon"

Going back to an old failed tactic. Nixon found a John O'Neill to counter John Kerry's war-veteran-turned-protestor, and now Bush has found another mom to counter Cindy Sheehan. I say ho-hum. What else ya got? :boring:

"For the second, the White House recruited its own mom, Tammy Pruett, for the president to showcase as an antidote to Ms. Sheehan."

Frank Rich is one of the best. Another is Bob Herbert.

[hatrack]

26. Way wrong on Cindy, way, WAY right on the Democrats

Aside from his stupid remarks on Mrs. Sheehan, this pretty much says it all.

[Chicago Democrat]

27. Rich paints with broad brush, Cindy supporters need to chill...

Basically he nails it. Its a great editorial.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

29. "Triangulation for War (Norman Solomon......Nails Frank Rich)"

http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0829-23.htm