NEO-CHAOS

...Vice President Dick Cheney challenged administration critics during a speech at an American Legion convention.

"Here in Washington, if any believe Americans should suddenly withdraw from Iraq and stop fighting al-Qaida in the very place they have gathered, let them say so clearly," Cheney said. "If any believe that Americans should break our word and abandon our Iraqi allies, let them make it known." - LINK

Well DICK, I may not be in Washington, but I would like to clearly make it known that it's time for a serious reality check. First of all, we are the ones who turned Iraq into a haven for terrorists.

What do you mean "abandon our Iraqi allies?" Do you mean we should never leave?? Considering the ONE group of Iraqi soldiers ready to fight without U.S. assistance was recently downgraded, you apparently advocate an indefinite open ended commitment to our Iraqi allies. I recall talk of a troop drawdown - was that just a smoke screen to appease critics of the administration, or are you using that as an ace in the hole should your party's midterm elections prospects not improve?

It seems that Iraq is already in civil war. Police are being blown up faster than we can train them. Iraqis are the victims of wholesale slaughter committed by their own countrymen. American service personnel are being killed on a sickeningly regular basis. The only rationale for staying is that if we leave now, the country will descend into chaos. Staying seems to be accomplishing the same thing.

All this "cut and run" bullshit has GOT to stop. Do you really think intimidating rhetoric can keep people from seeing the truth and speaking out? O.K., it worked for a good long while, but Americans are more pissed than scared now.

The neoparty is OVER - let the games begin.
LINK

Bush Back Peddles on UAE Ports Deal

Having been rebuffed by many of his most ardent GOP allies, the President has taken
some political lumps this week. His party has not been this publicly upset with him since the Harriet Myers saga. Although his handlers were able to overcome that dilemma, it's becoming obvious to even the casual political observer that damage control is fast becoming the top priority of this President's second term agenda.

Hmmmmm.................

Any Port in a Storm

What I want to know is why the White House advised W. to pour gasoline over himself while playing with a lighter...

The pending $6.8B sale of six U.S. ports to Dubai Ports World, a company owned by the United Arab Emirates, has split the atom – the atom being the President’s own party.

It seems the Bush administration is once again involved in a closed door, no congressional oversight, “trust me” political debacle.

The White House, apparently blindsided by their party’s rancorous rebellion against the deal, advised Bushie to summon the press, put on his best game face, and tell the congress to "bring it on,” in other words, threaten to veto to any legislation which would halt the sale. This would be the first veto of his administration. I can’t wait to see how this is worked out so the President won’t have to blink first.

LINK

It doesn’t exactly make me feel secure knowing that the same guy who told Brownie he was doing a heckuva' job, and didn’t know anything about this deal until it was already approved by his administration, is leading the charge in the war on terror. I’d feel better with a President who had some sort of handle on what’s happening in his own administration. You know, the kind of guy who is looked upon by his staff as competent enough to be kept appraised of things, and also, someone who is not intimidated by his vice president. (I also want to know why we have graded him on a curve from day one, bullhorn moment not withstanding).

Maybe Georgie is a uniter after all. He’s certainly managed to unite both parties - against him. I haven’t seen republicans and democrats this cooperative since the last vote for a pay raise.

Now I wonder…

I have read that the U.S. Coast Guard is in charge of the physical security of our ports (note to Georgie, increase funding for the Coast Guard), and that customs and the border patrol are in charge of cargo security. I've also read that Dubai Ports World has been put through vigorous security checks, and has complied with all of our requirements, etc., etc.

Are the republicans all stirred up because they don’t want the democrats to grab onto this issue while the President is barely at a 40% approval rating and national security is the only thing they may still have going for them? After all, Georgie’s even been dissed by Senator Frist. The GOP is getting very antsy about the upcoming midterm elections, and is beginning to back away from the burning Bush.

The Democrats, of course, are all over this. It’s just the opening they needed to show that they can be as tough as the republicans in the war on terror - darn it!!

Is this a political issue, or a security issue?

How many licks does it take to get to the tootsie roll center of a tootsie pop…
The world may never know.

Struck by the Similarity

DICK Cheney - Straight Shooter

Let me begin by saying that I am not a conspiracy theorist. I do not believe there is a cover up here (though I won't completely rule one out). I believe this actually was a hunting accident(for now).

Even the Wall Street Journal is playing it for laughs -
LINK

HOWEVER...

Vice President of the United States DICK Cheney, an elected official, the second most powerful man in the U.S. Government, has apparently decided that his need for privacy, ney secrecy, is more important than his responsibility to the American people - LINK

Remember, this is the guy who headed the "find a candidate for Vice President who will keep W. from embarrassing himself and the country" committee -- and chose himself.

What can you expect from a man who feels he is exempt from the rules because he is above them - - - you got a problem with that?

Poor Scott McClullen's utterly pathetic press conference, another contentious commentary on the relationship between this administration and the press, didn't exactly dispel the gathering storm of suspicion.

LINK

Before the story even gelled, the white house, which bungled what boiled down to a simple press release, (which incedentally is what gave the story legs in the first place), attempted to strike the classic "we are ready to move on and leave this behind us" pose.

Don't you find it the least bit curious that the 78 year old lawyer had a "minor" heart attack and had buckshot lodged somewhere in his chest AFTER the story sounded like a "just a scratch" affair the day before. I thought he was in "very stable" condition...

I think it's a bunch of Crappaquiddick.

I know - I just couldn't resist.

Considering Cheney's open disdain for the press, and his most recent track record, which includes:

- I don't know Joe Wilson. I've never met the man
- Iraq and 911 are linked, damn it
- The insurgency is in its final throes

Well,let's just say he won't be appearing in the GOP's "transparency of government" commericials any time soon.

This arrogant bastard has the gall to feel that he can do whatever he wants because (a) He's DICK Cheney, and (b) He's not running for political office. There's a team player for you.

Well, at least there's one part of the country in which he is beloved - LINK