The War In Iraq And The War At Home

The Skinny: WSJ Poll Finds Public Backs Congress In Showdown With President

(CBS)  The Skinny is Joel Roberts' take on the top news of the day and the best of the Internet.

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The morning after a bill calling for a U.S. pullout from Iraq cleared the House, there are a variety of stories in the morning newspapers on the status of the war and the political battle at home – none of which offer much solace for the Bush administration.

The Wall Street Journal reports on a new poll showing the public backs Congress in its showdown with the White House over Iraq.

The WSJ/NBC poll finds that by 56-37 percent Americans support setting a withdrawal date for U.S. troops. The poll also finds only 12 percent see improvement in Iraq since the start of President Bush's troop "surge."

That lack of progress is echoed in a new U.N. report cited by USA Today which finds that the humanitarian crisis In Iraq is "rapidly worsening," and violence rising. The report also accuses the Iraqi government of withholding figures on civilian deaths because the data could undermine public opinion – a charge the government dismissed.

And despite the Bush administration's arguments to the contrary, the Los Angeles Times reports Iraqis themselves are unconvinced that their lot has improved. Interviews throughout Iraq found "a minority of Iraqis said the security plan had made their lives better." Most cited "continued violence and additional headaches brought about by checkpoints and road closures."

Meanwhile, both the New York Times and Washington Post point out that Democrats plan to send their final troop withdrawal legislation to President Bush early next week, nearly four years since Mr. Bush's infamous "Mission Accomplished" speech. The Post calls that a "particularly pungent political anniversary" for the start of what’s expected to be a brutal veto fight.


White House Defends Political Briefings

In more Washington political drama, the Washington Post reports that the White House has disclosed some details about controversial meetings at which senior government officials were briefed on GOP electoral prospects.

The Post says White House officials held 20 such briefings for officials in at least 15 government agencies last year to apprise them of "which seats Republican candidates might win or lose, and how the election outcomes could affect the success of administration policies."

While government employees are barred under the Hatch Act from engaging in partisan political activity, the administration maintains that the meetings "were appropriate." Officials told the Post they were merely "informational briefings about the political landscape."

At least one of those meetings, though, is being investigated by the Office of Special Counsel. And the chairman of the House oversight committee, Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., wants to know more. "Politicization of departments and agencies is a serious issue," Waxman said.


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[sjc_1]

If the War Powers Act requires Congress to authorize this, then the Congress can remove that authorization as well, without resorting to funding restrictions.

This war was about WMD, that turned out to be wrong. When we found no WMD, then that is the end of the invasion. We help Iraq put itself back together and move out, we do not let this drag on for more than 4 years.

[selenite1]

George Bush reminds me of his dear friend Kenneth Lay (Enron).

Lies, denials and criminal misuse of his authority.

By the time Bush and his cronies are finally done, the fallout is going to make the Enron debacle look like a walk in the park.

I sincerely pray Bush and his "friends" meet a similar fate.

[toldyouso21]

Brownback said both parties have addressed the war wrongly, with the Republicans focused on mostly military planning and the Democrats on bashing the president.

"We cannot fight a war with one party for it and one party against it," he said.



How interesting considering the war was started and has been fought for almost 4 years with one party for it and another against it. Look what having a majority in Congress has wrought--the minority party is now willing to listen, work together and compromise--here is a clue Brownback: if we cannot fight a war with one party for it and another against it--then we cannot fight this war.

[toldyouso21]

This leaves only one real question. Is Bush lying about what he sees as progress in Iraq or is he genuinely delusional? Is he genuinely mentally ill? Any dispassionate observer could only conclude that the president of the United States is mad. As in crazy. All of his life he has gotten his way as a spoiled child of a very elite and wealthy family. Every time there has been someone there to clean up after his messes and buy off the injured. Now he is finally being told NO for perhaps the very first time in his life and he can not handle it.Posted by RandalDS at 03:37 PM : Apr 26, 2007


Bush has a history of lying about this war--first to wage it, then to justify it and now, to keep it going. For years he said it was going well even though any moron could see it was tanking--so why should he change? Bush is a congenital and pathological liar which is why he refuses to ever testify under oath--he is honest enough with himself (or Rove told him) that he is incapable of telling the truth for any length of time--and so will lie out of habit and innate ability. Note that he has surrounded himself with like people and is adored and supported by other liars. They lie to themselves about the war, they then lie to themselves about Bush, Gonzales and other neo con lies....Lying lies and the lying liars who tell them--pretty much sums up the state of the Republican party.

[toldyouso21]

They are causing a back lash against Israel one of our allies in the Middle East. But then this NEOCON MEDDLING is the very thing that caused Jews to be persecuted in Europe. Posted by bluestardad at 03:18 PM : Apr 26, 2007

Bluestardad: I am against this war as you may well know and I have no love of neo cons--but...after creating a Warsaw ghetto for the Palestinians, bombing, detaining and killing them indiscriminately, lying, stealing land and encroaching on territory continually, bombing and killing over a thousand Lebanese men, women and children over the kidnapping of a few men and the killing of 8*, bombing humanitarian outposts and consistently disregarding ceasefires...Israel has and is creating its own backlash. Israel is riding the coattails of the PNAC strategy and is very happy to do so. IN fact our incursions and invasions serve as inspirations to their own actions in the ME-- We all have blood on our hands--caused by our own actions--including the Jews in Israel, the Arabs in Palestine and Lebanon, etc.

* Granted we did tell the world to stay out of it and mind their own business--leaving it to Israel and Lebanon to sort out--then we fed exed bombs with millions of shrapnel bomblets to Israel for them to use against civilians--so maybe we are in THAT up to our necks after all. But it was the choice of Israel to conduct operations--and to use those ugly bombs.

[toldyouso21]

Why should we withdraw when we'll be definitely be going back? IF WE WITHDRAW EARLY, I BET MY LIFE SAVINGS IN FIVE YEARS WE'LL GO BACK. UNFORTUNATELY, IT WILL PROBABLY BE UNDER CONDITIONS 10 TIMES MORE BRUTAL THAN NOW.

Posted by bizzzz at 01:50 PM : Apr 26, 2007


I doubt if it will be more brutal for the Iraqi people--they are being killed in droves anyway. And lest you forget, after we failed to find the WMD--we "claimed" we were there for the Iraqi people--so their welfare should be our first concern. Oh yes, since 2003, 80% of the Iraqi citizens said they wanted us to leave--those numbers have not really changed. Funny we do things for people that they do not even ask for and we get a lot of them killed for a war we volunteered on them. What is wrong with this picture? If we go back to Iraq in 5 years--at least our soldiers will have been rested for over 8 months.

[toldyouso21]

CBS news and the Democrats love to claim the country is behind there push to abandon Iraq, nothing could be further from the truth! The truth is most Amercans want to see Iraq stabalized before America leaves and when it comes to congress and the American people there is an almost equal devision despite these so called CBS polls. Polls are the tools of agenda driven entities and can be used to furhter those agendas depending how the questions are worded and what demographic is polled.
Posted by notblue at 12:40 PM : Apr 26, 2007


Nope. I'm an independent. the war is illegal and is now a civil war--we really DO want to abandon Iraq. Please note the polls ask do we want to leave or stay --and we are voting LEAVE. The country is not you and your base--give it a rest. Only 35% want us to stay and they are mostly Republicans--WE are NOT YOU--which is why Republicans were also voted out in November and if they do not get their *** together will be voted out in 2008. We want out--we started souring the minute we realized our rationale for going in was based on LIES--it has been downhill from there.

[toldyouso21]

Correction:

These cowards and traitors on the Democratic side of the Isle will be judged Politically for this next year. osted by didntinhale at 11:55 AM : Apr 26, 2007

I am an Independent that was against Bush, Enron, this war, the outing of agents etc. since day 1. A lot of my colleagues and friends were in the Republican camp but changed in 2004 and 2005. Now, It is hard put to find any Republican I know or Independent that wishes Bush WELL--most wish that Bush and his cabal had never , ever been elected and hold the Republican Congress responsible.

[toldyouso21]

These cowards and traitors on the Democratic side of the Isle will be judged Politically for this next year. osted by didntinhale at 11:55 AM : Apr 26, 2007

I am an Independent that was against Bush, Enron, this war, the outing of agents etc. since day 1. A lot of my colleagues and friends were in the Republican camp but changed in 2004 and 2005. Now, It is hard put to find any Republican I know or Independent that wishes Bush had never , eve been elected and hold the Republican Congress responsible.

When you slur the Democrats--you are slurring everyone that is not a neo con--if you think you can win and hold on to this country without the Independents, some Democrat defectors and/or the military--think again. The pundits are predicting it and even the RNC is stating that there is a good chance Republicans will also be routed in 2008. Why? Because George Bush is ******** on the US, the Constitution, International law and the soldiers and we loathe him--since Republicans cannot stop supporting him--then they are also on the outs. With the exception of the base (and many of them are waking up), I doubt you will be able to commit enough voter fraud to give the election to Republicans--Republicans and neo cons are not only destroying their prospects for 2008--they are imploding as a party. Republican--is becoming a pariah and the word neo con is an epithet.

[liberalvet]

Posted by JKAtkinson at 12:41 PM : Apr 26, 2007

It is refreshing to hear that people from the far right are waking up and realizing you have been taken advantage of.

Please learn from this lesson and realize that this country has a diverse culture and not everyone in the country supports your religious beliefs as closly as you do. The foundation of this country was based on religious freedom. This translates to having freedom to be religious or not, to as religious as one is comfortalbe and not to be persecuted for it.

If you and your kind had not been so aggressive in pushing your flavor of religion down all Americans throats we would not be in this mess.

Again please learn from this fatal error and take a close look at the environment around you and remember; we can all live in harmony and believe in different things. That is what makes this country great.

[randalds]

Posted by skyk at 08:08 PM : Apr 26, 2007

I couldn't agree more about Cheney's evil insanity. The Nazi comparison fits him the most of the two of them. Bush on the other hand has sort of a twisted religious sort of insanity. I agree that he honestly thinks that he is on a mission from god and that makes him very dangerous and mentally ill too. He himself has said that god made sure that he was elected president at this point in history to spread "gods gift of democracy" around the world. Of course that "mission" doesn't take into consideration the religion or opinions of the rest of the world who might not want this "gift". He is one sick individual and I doubt he'll go peacefully when it's his time to leave office. I envision him strapped to a gurney and headed to a hospital screaming in full blown delusions and hallucinations.

[skyk-2009]

The troops needs to eventually go home but for crying out loud, please dont tell the enemy WHEN its going to happen. I understand that the DNC wants those seats and that white house job but dont sacrifice everything just to have it.
Posted by xzavierbrown at 04:14 PM : Apr 26, 2007
+ report abuse

WHO is the Enemy? They are ALL citizens of that Nation people. Bin Laden isn't going to move in and take over in Iraq, why should he? He's perfectly happy where he is, completely safe and rebuilt to better than when he attacked us. So who is the Enemy? Iran? Syria? IF either of them were to invade Iraq we, as well as Allies we ONCE had could do the SAME thing to them that we did to Saddam. PLEASE would someone tell me exactly who this "Enemy" that the Mental Patient some call a president is??

[skyk-2009]

He is insane. He is mentally ill. He is sick and he needs to be removed from office for our sake and for his own.
Posted by RandalDS at 03:37 PM : Apr 26, 2007

I had orginally thought that he was just another Southern Fascist drunk on power but I think he actually BELIEVES that GOD put him where he is and that somehow he can WILL a victory. That would lead one to believe he's Mentally Ill. Regardless for the good of the Nation we HAVE to seriously concider removing him and the REALLY CRAZY ONE, Cheney. Cheney I believe is Criminally insane... that man is REALLY sick and would not have any problem with using the Army to prevent any views he conciders to be wrong. I'm talking true Nazi, third reich sick.

[skyk-2009]

Can any of you, just for a minute, imagine where this nation would be under the Incompetent leadership of George Bush had something like that which happened to the Great FDR? People we have a Mentally Impaired Man in charge and he hasn't any idea how to get us out of this mess. When it gets beyond blowing people up or bullying people, Bush is just lost. This is truly a very bad situation because he is actually refusing to even compromise with the PEOPLE he's supposed to be leading. What he's saying is he simply doesn't have the ability to bring the people of this nation together and create a situation where they can govern themselves. But that's not the half of it. IF We the People had not stepped in with the Election in November we'd still be hearing the "Stay the Course" line along with "We're winning and it's just a matter of time until the resistence is gone". To look at the reality of this situation and that which Bush would have us believe? Only a mentally impaired person would be that off.

[pakaal]

I understand that the DNC wants those seats and that white house job but dont sacrifice everything just to have it.
Posted by xzavierbrown at 04:14 PM : Apr 26, 2007

I understand that Neocons want to believe this is all about Democrats desires, but you leave out the majority views of the American people, as well as the Iraqi people, as well as a number of Republican representatives and Senators. Not to mention that Petreus has even admitted that this timetable has put a lot of pressure on the Iraqi government to actually start doing some coalition building for a change.

[starleo146]

The media INVESTIGATE? They forgot how all these mogels that own the stations will fire them so they are scared, Bush helped corporate America and freedom of the press is fine as long as we talk about ANNA nicole or Rosie o Donnel things like that stay away from investigative journalism that might expose some of this *** going on in Wash. D.C.

[j4401]

Is it possible that the only reason we are in Iraq
is so a few individuals have access to the oil fields? Why can't the media investigate this?

[starleo146]

Guilini says make no bones about it they(dem) want us to go on defense. No rudy we want to see some offense we've been on defense long enough boy you are going to be another bright one aren't you.

[starleo146]

o.k. Bush you are determined to have YOUR war and it is YOUR WAR not the AMERICAN peoples WAR so VETO and go for it play war with the great military then go to all the funerals and explain to each son, daughter, wife, husband, mother, and father ,why you wanted this war so bad in the first place make a speech like you did at virginia tech I got it just save it and use that your whole war has been a LIE anyway go for it George it is your war Oh what if the Congress doesn't have time to bring up another bill dip into Cheney's account Haliburton can Pay.

[xzavierbrown]

and I am sure the United Nations is as credible as Bush..but then again, anti-war activists LIKES what the United Nation is saying..nothing more nothing less.
The troops needs to eventually go home but for crying out loud, please dont tell the enemy WHEN its going to happen. I understand that the DNC wants those seats and that white house job but dont sacrifice everything just to have it.