Guardian, UK: Besieged Bush faces attacks from friends as well as foes

[autorank]

Besieged Bush faces attacks from friends as well as foes

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1604573,00.html


As the President sees his ambitious plans for his second term mired in a swamp of scandal and investigations, Paul Harris maps out what the future may hold for the radical Republican revolution and the divided Democrats

Sunday October 30, 2005
The Observer

<snip>.

These are times of deep crisis in America. The stunning image of FBI agents scouring the most exclusive suburbs of Washington, just a mile or so from the White House, sums up the mood of fear, paranoia and siege mentality now gripping the Bush administration.

President George Bush has just had the worst single week of his political life. It first saw the 2,000th US soldier die in Iraq. Then came the humiliation of Harriet Miers withdrawing her candidacy for the Supreme Court. Finally, came the hammer blow of Plamegate that saw top White House aide Lewis 'Scooter' Libby face five criminal charges and perhaps a lengthy jail term.

And there is no end in sight to the troubles. Bush's political guru Karl Rove is still under the shadow of investigation by the Plamegate prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald. A trickle of former allies, friends and colleagues have also begun openly to turn on Bush. Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, former chief of staff to Colin Powell, has blasted the march to war with Iraq, blaming it on a right-wing 'cabal' in the administration. Brent Scowcroft, a close confidant of Bush's father, has also gone public. He last week slammed the war in Iraq and revealed the younger Bush had not spoken to him in two years.

That sums up Bush's mood: bitter and angry at his perceived enemies who are then cast out of the inner circle. The formerly watertight Bush White House is starting to leak badly, revealing an inside picture of a President furious at the way his second term has collapsed around him and unwilling to blame himself for any of the disasters. Bush has always had a temper, but now reports of furious tirades against senior staff, and even of rows between Bush and Vice-President Dick Cheney, have begun to emerge.

<snip>

That is typical of the mood of many senior figures in the Democratic Party. The Democrats are still engaged in a bout of introspection after last year's devastating loss. In fact, far from being able to capitalise on Bush's many crises, they are also in danger of becoming a victim of them. Iraq has split the Democrats. The favourite to secure the 2008 nomination, Hillary Clinton, is a hawk on Iraq. She has campaigned for a bigger military and refused to condemn the war. Kerry meanwhile - at last - has come out punching, sounding like his 1960s Vietnam protester incarnation. 'Despite all the troubles of the Republicans, the Democrats have not got a single message of a positive alternative to the Republicans,' said Haas 'The message, "We are not those guys", will not be enough.'

[cliss]

1. Very nice. Thanks, A.

I loved reading it. Recall, a mere 11 months ago. Bush was triumphant, the Man of the hour. He had just won his 2nd election. The world was his oyster. He was unstoppable....at least for the moment.

And now? My how things can change.

[opihimoimoi]

2. Bush is now openly the Dumbest President in all of Mankinds History...

Rides a bike like a 2 year old

Falls off the fall proof Segway

Falls off a non moving couch

Falls out of cars

and trucks....

and out of Grace....

[autorank]

3. Hey there, isn't this a stunner. Good analysis.

He mocked us with his arrogance, now he's being pursued by an amiable, well adjusted Jalvert.

"Given the choice of being chased by Patrick Fitzgerals or a pack of starving Zombies...I'd pick the Zombies." White Rose Society Blogger

[JoFerret]

4. Furious tirades and rows with Dick

...bring it on. Leak away.
What a fun packed article.
Three more years?
If it weren't for the apalling damage it would be hilarious.
Impeach NOW.

A must read article in full.

<<Iraq is the central crisis in the Bush administration. It is from there that many of the other disasters that have rocked the White House have sprung. The 'V word' -
...
Politically, it is Iraq that gave birth to Plamegate... That investigation has now spread its tentacles all over the administration. In fact, it goes to the heart of the Iraq issue: was intelligence deliberately misused to railroad Americans into believing Saddam Hussein was a direct threat? On Friday the probe claimed its first scalp.... For 22 months the probe, led by Chicago prosecutor Fitzgerald, has ticked under the White House like a timebomb. It has now exploded, putting Cheney's office firmly at the centre of the scandal. Fitzgerald believes Cheney himself told Libby of Plame's work. That means, when Libby comes to trial, Cheney would be called as a witness.>>

BUT -<<Even as they gloat over George Bush's woes, it is hard to see how any of that is good news for the Democrats.

The impact of last week's crises will rumble around the US for years.>>

[drduffy]

5. great article...

but doesn't bode well for dems unless they get their fingers out of their asses. And the article was right on the money as far as Hillary is concerned. She's the pick and pawn of the corporatists, ready and willing to increase the military spending,the numbers dead, the bullshit.

When will we begin to identify and write and talk about the true traitors here? The owners and the CEOs of the big money power corporations, banks and, frankly, begin to quesiton this model of capitalism itself.

[librarycard]

6. This could be said of Fitzgerald as well

if comments by Air America are to be taken into consideration.

[Hekate]

7. Now if only Dem leaders can get a grip!

Bush is experiencing a perfect storm, and while he and his cronies may richly deserve the consequences of their iniquity, it does put the country even further into harm's way.

I just hope to God our Dem leaders can get a grip in time to rescue the next two elections.

As usual, the Guardian gives us an excellent analysis.

Hekate

[bluestateguy]

8. I want this president to fail

and I want the country to learn a lesson in the process.

[cassiepriam]

9. The greatest tragedy has been the people's support of the con artists

Hopefully the american people will begin to function like
adults after this is over. We can hope.

[Demeter]

10. I Want Him Punished! He's Already Failed, Repeatedly!

[autorank]

11. People tell kids, "you need consequences." Well, * is infantile, why not.

Jail, Federal time, a real pen, no country clubs, no 1/2 way houses.

Fuck'em all! Why don't "the adults" have to face consequences?

[EuroObserver]

12. See also: Bush in ethical meltdown but all liberals can do is gloat

(Guardian, Gary Younge): http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x169528

[Catfight]

13. Democrats should concentrate on winning congress and investigating

everything bushco.