Bolten's Plan Calls on Bush to Rattle Sabers at Iran For Political Gain

[RedEarth]

Bolten ‘Recovery Plan’ Calls on Bush to Rattle Sabers at Iran For Domestic Political Gain

Time magazine reports that new White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten has created an informal, five-point “recovery plan” for President Bush to help shore up President Bush’s second term. Among the steps: “Deploy Guns and Badges,” an “unabashed play to members of the conservative base who are worried about illegal immigration”; “Make Wall Street Happy,” an “effort to curry favor with dispirited Bush backers in the investment world”; and “Brag More.”

But the “riskiest, and potentially most consequential, element of the plan” is Bolten’s strategy to reclaim Bush’s “security credibility” — take the focus off Iraq by rattling sabers at Iran:

Presidential advisers believe that by putting pressure on Iran, Bush may be able to rehabilitate himself on national security, a core strength that has been compromised by a discouraging outlook in Iraq.

Aggressive Bush administration posturing risks impairing efforts to form a united international front while spurring the Iranian people to rally to the defense of their radical government. But aren’t those costs worth it, if President Bush’s approval rating can come soaring back to 40 percent?

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/04/24/iran-bolten/

[misternormal]

1. This is a very serious thing, but...

I can just hear shrub now.. "Badges??? We don't need no stinkin' badges!!"

[bigtree]

2. it's a recipe for continued high gas and oil prices

and continued high gas and oil profits for their benefactors.

[madrchsod]

3. oh that`s a good idea

push fuel to 4 a gallon. the economy should collapse just in time for the novemember elections