" The key to a successful Presidency is to be seen as a Commander-in-Chief

[KlatooBNikto]

That was what Bush told a family friend before his election in 2000. That statement, in normal circumstances, would evoke suspicion and outrage, after all the events that have occurred since then.

His resort to military symbolism,war metaphors,invocation of patriotism and denigration of his political opponents as lacking in patriotism all fit that basic MO of this thug.

Nowhere has he expressed one word of sympathy or concern for the lives of the fighting men or those of the civilians in Iraq. It is all about his political viability.

I think, if we had elected Don Corleone, we would have had a better regime.

[ComerPerro]

1. Yeah, its just more evidence that he wanted, needed, this war

its his only grasp at legitimacy.

[Inland]

2. "I'm a wartime president"

He thought that was all he had to say to answer all questions. It's wartime, I'm president, you shut up and I do what I want.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. A "successful" president wouldn't need to be a CIC.

Unfortunately, flagwaving sells.

[stanwyck]

4. Why Bush won his second term

America has never unseated a president seeking a second term during wartime. Bush (or, rather, Rove) knew this, hammered it home during the election, and Bush squeaked back in.