What Ben Stein Thinks Bush Should Do

It Is Time For Rumsfeld To Go And For The President To Admit That Iraq Is A Mess, Says Stein

(CBS)  Sunday Morning contributor Ben Stein thinks it is time for President Bush to admit that Iraq is a disaster.

Times are very tough in Iraq and if I was still a speechwriter for the President, like I was for Mr. Nixon and Mr. Ford, this is what I would suggest he say:

My fellow Americans, I have some sobering news. It is my duty, above all, to protect the nation. I sincerely believed I was doing that when I ordered the invasion of Iraq. I still believe Saddam Hussein was the most dangerous man in the world. But it is clear to me now that things are not working out well in Iraq. Despite the incredible confidence, bravery and sacrifice of our men and women on the ground there, Iraq is still a violent, largely out of control nation. We may be making more terrorists than we destroy. "Quagmire" comes sadly to mind. It is clear that change must be made. Therefore, I have this morning accepted Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld's resignation with sincere thanks for his service to the nation. He will be replaced by a truly heroic American, Senator John McCain of Arizona.

Despite my best intentions, I made mistakes in Iraq and mine is the responsibility. Good men and women died and hard-earned tax money was lost. Fine young men and women are crippled and disabled, which is a tragedy. It is time for a change. Therefore, I am convening an official, national, bi-partisan, blue ribbon commission composed of Democrats, Independents and Republicans, civilian and military, to start meeting at once and give me a recommendation in one month as to what our Iraq policy should be. All options are on the table. All.

I want to close with this thought. I am just a man. I have no miraculous powers. I have no special pipeline to God. Like all presidents from Jefferson and Lincoln onwards — and believe me, I know I'm not in their league — I make mistakes and sometimes good people die because of them. I am deeply sorry. As we re-examine our policy, I would ask that you all pray for us to make the right decision. May God continue to bless us all. Thank you.

[roland062]

Iraq if left on its own will divide into three seperate states. They have always been held together by a strong and ruthless hand.

On their own chaos will prevail until new borders are etched.

They dont think in terms of country but in terms of sect.

America is pouring gasoline on the fire of terrorism by "staying the course".

Young men and women will have died needlessly at the end of the day and that
is the biggest tragedy. There is no solution and winning when there are people
willing to be walking bombs. Suicide bombers are unstopable....

[roland062]

Iraq if left on its own will divide into three seperate states. They have always been held together by a strong and ruthless hand.

On their own chaos will prevail until new borders are etched.

They dont think in terms of country but in terms of sect.

America is pouring gasoline on the fire of terrorism by "staying the course".

Young men and women will have died needlessly at the end of the day and that
is the biggest tragedy. There is no solution and winning when there are people
willing to be walking bombs. Suicide bombers are unstopable....

[bluestardad]

Dictators is that a Washington Dish that Republican Mark Foley was covertly serving the Congressional pages, Or Is that a Texas Style potato dish that the Bush administration has been feeding the American people for the last few years?

[verjoy]

One of the best commentaries I have heard. To bad that we don't have a leader that has the Courage and Heart to give this speech and really mean it.

[bodidr]

But let me add that Bush never really won the first election, it was a political/corporate coup and we stood by and let it happen. And now we are all suffering, while they have all the riches from the spoils of this war. Stand up and take back America before its too late!!!

[ssporleder]

Thank you for putting this into text for those of us that want to pass on great commentaries!

[boomrbill-2009]

Mr. Stein's speech is measured, respectful, clear, simple, and the best way to proceed.

Bells should be ringing all across our land.

[diamtool]

yes JK! i Agree! as a fellow republican i say let's get rid of the antiquated two party system. The Country can no longer afford to trust the weak democrats! one party is plenty! It worked real well for that German Nationalist Party in the '30's. Then we won't need expensive messy elections either!
Good thinking!

[jkolkind]

You lefties make me sick, next you will condone North Korea's Nukes, saying they have that right, wake up, or will that take another 9/11. We should stay the course in Iraq, and continue in Afghanistan, it is either stand and fight, or sit back and cry when something happens again, just wait until the Dems control the white house, we will practically welcome terrorists in the country, and to make matters worse, the military will be downsized, so when they finally realize they can't protect the country, we will be in such a spot militarily that we cannot recover. Way to go left winger's way to go. When another tower falls, or another bomb kills someone, at least you can feel a sense of accomplishment.

[diamtool]

Ben Stein is a right wing dolt. The court jester for King George. He pushed this Bush agenda for the war and against the middle class. Called anyone who disagreed weak and unpatriotic etc...Funny how the slightly more intelligent of these neo-con goons (Will,Buckley,Hitchens) are actually starting to FIND CLUES. now that the damage is done. Not really funny, actually it's shameful.
Too bad Kissinger is bush's real guru. That idiot still thinks we are winning in Viet Nam!
Ben, your work is done in politics, time to come up with a new concept for a cable comedy show, maybe short slapstick vignettes, with goofy kazoo music in the background- The Benny Stein Show!

[randolf44]

Bush is too arrogant with power to ever admit the made a mistake in hiring Rummy or anyone else. The pretext of changing strategies is simply a pre-election ploy to win votes. See what he does after the election....NOTHING!

[dickhunter]

If President Bush listens at all to the God he professes to believe in, he would follow Ben Stein's suggestion to confess, change his ways, and follow some sensible guidance!

We in Hawai'i are fortunate enough to live as far from Washington as possible (and still have zip codes and an area code!) - but we still feel the pain of the families who have sacrificed their sons, husbands, and lovers for this terrible blot on our nation's honor and reputation! aloha to all -

[dickhunter]

If President Bush listens at all to the God he professes to believe in, he would follow Ben Stein's suggestion to confess, change his ways, and follow some sensible guidance!

We in Hawai'i are fortunate enough to live as far from Washington as possible (and still have zip codes and an area code!) - but we still feel the pain of the families who have sacrificed their sons, husbands, and lovers for this terrible blot on our nation's honor and reputation! aloha to all -

[sewtoni]

I have never been a fan of Ben Stein's. Uncharacteristically, I stopped to hear his editorial this week and I was brought to tears at the message he was offering to our President and our nation. Mr. Stein said the only thing that President Bush can and should say at this time. I pray the entire Administration was watching CBS Sunday Morning yesterday. In case Mr. Bush didn't see the broadcast for himself I called The White House this morning and suggested that he should. Thank you Ben Stein from a lifetime liberal.

[cmechec]

The measure of a man's greatness is not in how much power he exerts over others, but in the courage to face himself honestly and those he has harmed, and say, "I was wrong."

Alas, this president has no such courage.

An even greater man would add, "Let me fix this."

Alas again.

Should Mr. Bush take up Mr. Stein's suggestion and read such a speech, he might go down in history as one of America's greatest presidents. Instead, he's going down in flames.

Alas, he's taking us with him.

[gmond]

Needed some filler?

[edward troup]

I always thought Ben was funny in the eye drops ad he was a gas and on the comedy channel
the Ben steines money was informative and a gas .
and a great game show
but in politics Ben really blows big chunks not only now but in the nixon years and ford as well.

[bellal-2009]

Ben Stein, You offer nothing, run along.

[tom_gwynn]

If this wasn't so pathetic it would be truly amusing. After six years of calling Democrats everything from wimps to unpatriotic to traitors to cut-and-runners Stein wants to use us to cover Bush's bleeding behind with a flag of bipartisanship? Sorry, Ben, that train left the station a long time ago. After six years of being lied to by this Administration and its congressional cronies (beginning with his promise to be a 'uniter and not a divider') six years of watching this president use the Constitution as his personal toilet paper, six years of having right-wing extremist judges forced down our throats with threats and bullying... in short after six years of dishonest, corrupt, *incompetent* misrule, Bush and the Republican party have used up all their credit with us. You've had your fun, but now the bill is coming due. Still, Stein isn't wrong in saying bold presidential action could turn this around. He just has the speech wrong. "...We are making more terrorists than we destroy. "Quagmire" comes sadly to mind. It is clear that change must be made. Therefore, it has become my duty to offer the resignations of both myself and VP Cheney, being the two men most responsible for this stain upon America's honor.%u201D That, I believe, could start things afresh. Admittedly, to do this Bush would need three things he sadly lacks, these being a sense of honor, responsibly and duty. So it%u2019s not very likely and we don%u2019t expect it.

There are a couple of problems with the speech... namely Bush will never admit to making a mistake and Bush actually does believe he has a pipeline to God.

Both of those reasons are why we're still in Iraq. He honestly thinks he's doing God's work over there.