from Chris Floyd’s Empire Burlesque – High Crimes and Low Comedy in the Bush Imperium
Daily Archives: 22 Feb 07
Here comes Newt
Dick Morris: “Newt, consigned by many observers to Elizabeth Dole or Dan Quayle status in this GOP nominating process, appears to be moving up into contention, overtaking former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and battling to be the conservative alternative to either former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani or Arizona Sen. John McCain. ” (The Hill)
Last of the True Believers
“Even if Congress moves next to fiddle with funding the war, [Bush] might just have the upper hand.
History is on the president’s side. Even in unpopular wars, Congress has failed to sustain major efforts to control the purse strings. As unpopular as the Vietnam War was, Congress never cut funding while U.S. troops were on the ground in Indochina.
While tolerating the right of lawmakers to “express their opinion” in a resolution, Bush is signaling that a fierce fight awaits those who aim to cut war funds. For starters, he will not shy away from accusing Congress of abandoning the troops, no matter how clever Democratic leaders might be in crafting measures that undercut Bush policy without restricting the flow of resources for troops on the ground.” (CQ)
Duh
Iraq withdrawal a defeat: UK press: “An admission of defeat dressed up as a victory was how many sections of the British press today summed up Prime Minister Tony Blair’s decision to pull troops out of Iraq.” (news.com.au)
Hell hath no fury like Hillary
Toby Harnden: “A delicious spat between the Obama and Hillary camps today after coruscating anti-Clinton comments from Hollywood mogul David Geffen that vividly encapsulated every concern about Hillary and Bill that nestles in the hearts of Democrats wary of the couple.
What did it reveal? That this will be a bloody campaign. That Team Obama is prepared to do battle. That Team Clinton wants to bury Obama early. And that Hillary will respond to every slight with ferocious indignation while protesting with a straight face that she only wants to run a positive campaign.
Geffen’s comments to Maureen Dowd of the New York Times were incredibly damaging to Hillary. Dowd is one of the most influential political journalists in the US. Two decades ago, she sunk the presidential campaign of Joe Biden. Hillary wants to make sure Maureen doesn’t do the same thing to her.” (Telegraph.UK)
Geffen’s major misgivings speak to the unelectability of Clinton and the vulnerability to giving the election easily to the Republicans if she is the nominee.
Meme Watch
Google Search compares the current insurgent attacks in Iraq to the 1968 Tet Offensive. The congruities go beyond recent fears voiced by McCain.
