Bush catches critics off guard?

[liberal N proud]

This is what the Washington Post is saying...

Weakened president still can set terms of debate

ANALYSIS
By Michael Abramowitz and Charles Babington

Updated: 12:49 a.m. ET Sept 7, 2006
With a series of forceful speeches on terrorism and a dramatic announcement that he has sent top-tier terrorism suspects to the Guantanamo Bay prison, President Bush this week has demonstrated anew the power of even a weakened commander in chief to set the terms of national debate.

All week, the White House has made plain its desire to refocus the attention of voters this fall away from a troubled and unpopular war in Iraq in favor of Bush's vision of a worldwide struggle against Islamic radicalism and terrorism. Yesterday, Bush sought to turn a legal defeat at the Supreme Court into a political opportunity.


By challenging Congress to immediately give the administration authority to try notorious al-Qaeda figures such as Khalid Sheik Mohammed by military commissions, he shifted the argument with Democratic critics of national security policies and competence. As Bush framed the choice, anyone against his proposal would be denying him necessary tools to protect American security.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14707867/


Were we caught off guard? Did we not expect this bull shit when the chimp in chief hit the road?

[yankeedem]

1. What are they smoking?

The counter to this is that OBL now has safe harbor provided by the Pakistani government, all on bush's watch. And for Bush to try terrorism figures, he's got to catch them first, which he is unserious about doing.

[magellan]

2. I'm a little hazy on this

There's just so much going on at any one time. But didn't the SCOTUS rule that military trials were out?

[HereSince1628]

5. Yes but the * runout this week is to promote a new law to make

what was illegal legal. What the papers don't seem to notice is this is no surprise to Bush watchers who know that this is the dictator's life pattern. He has always been forgiven for every transgression.

[magellan]

7. Thanks, that's what I thought

The MSNBC report is misleading though, makes it sound like the Dems have been backed into a corner by Bush**. And if I'm misled, and I'm here most every day getting input from other DUers to help keep things straight, imagine how those without scorecards are doing.

I don't see this as the Dems' problem -- unless they make it their problem by falling over each other to approve new legislation rather than telling Bush** where to stuff it.

[rodeodance]

6. they type the WH wanted--secret evidence etc is out

[Skidmore]

3. Patooey!

Spit, spit, spit.

[Skidmore]

4. .....

Spit!

[KharmaTrain]

8. Stenography In Action

I forget what site I saw this on, but this is nearly verbatim Rovian talking points. This regime thinks it's got us all figgered out...gonna try to pull the same shit on us with national security they tried with minimum wage. That is to create a vote with a poison pill in it...hoping to ram through a bill with some carrot to the Democratic base but hidden inside the bill are powers for the "unitary executive" to torture whomever, whereever, whenever. When Democrats vote NO, out come the TV ads and swiftboaters. Be on your toes on this one...this regime is getting more desperate.

[Disturbed]

10. The Busholini Regime is in an all War mode on America.

They will try everything they can to keep the Dems from a majority in Congress because they know that if that happens the Dark Days for them will be at hand.

[annabanana]

13. This is what I rely on DU for...

There are people here who know the language that legislation is written in .

There are people here who can highlight the loopholes and show us where the administration intends on "driving the truck through"..

All this new "openness" about the secret prisons, and the shuffling about of "types of prisoners" those protected and those unprotected by the Geneva Conventions....

We need eyes in the back of our heads.

[eShirl]

14. yep: Make. Announce. Type.

[rodeodance]

9. and wnats to ensure that interogators will not be charged with crimes:

....His success in catching much of Washington by surprise showed that a president who polls show has his political back to the wall still has formidable tools: the ability to make well-timed course corrections on policy, dominate the news and shape the capital's agenda in the weeks before Election Day.

Bush's moves were partly a concession to those who have complained about secret CIA prisons abroad. Even as he acknowledged the existence of the prison program for the first time, Bush could argue that there are no terrorism suspects now in the CIA program.

At the same time, Bush sought to redefine the issue of CIA detentions from one of civil liberties to one of protecting Americans. He asserted that interrogators had reaped an intelligence bonanza from the questioning of top al-Qaeda leaders such as Mohammed -- the mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks -- and Osama bin Laden deputy Abu Zubaida, and insisted Congress pass a law that would allow such interrogations to continue without legal jeopardy to soldiers and intelligence officers.

"We need to ensure that those questioning terrorists can continue to do everything within the limits of the law to get information that can save American lives," he said in his speech in the East Room of the White House.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

11. Welcome to the season of selling fear.

There is NO mess in Iraq, we did NOT help hardliners in Iran regain control by naming them as part of the Axis of Eeevel, nor did we hedge for 4 years on even admitting there were secret prisons being run. Someone is afraid of having their policies scrutinized by a less than compliant Congress.

Smae thing, every freaking year. Hasn't America had enough yet?


Well?


Apparently the WaHoPo hasn't.


I had enough in 2002.

[CJCRANE]

12. Catches critics off guard?

9/11 was five years ago and now he decides he wants to try the so-called mastermind?!

Maybe the trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is the October Surprise (unless they've got bin Laden on ice somewhere).

[Chimichurri]

15. What about Pakistan harboring Osama? and about it's

surrender to Al Queada?