He's a mighty good leader (not)

I watched the president's speech last night; well I made it to the point where he trotted out the first of five shopworn references to September 11th in his justification for his failed war in Iraq. Bush, typically lacking in eloquence and short on ideas, indicated that "Iraq is the latest battlefield in this war," (his war on terrah!). He continued. "Many terrorists who kill innocent men, women, and children on the streets of Baghdad are followers of the same murderous ideology that took the lives of our citizens in New York, in Washington and Pennsylvania. There is only one course of action against them — to defeat them abroad before they attack us at home."

David Corn has a decent analysis of the BushCo speech at his website. Basically, as Corn summarizes, "Twelve days ago, The Washington Post reported that the Bush White House had concluded that George W. Bush--who was facing sinking polling numbers regarding the war in Iraq--needed to "shift strategies." He would (of course) not be implementing any policy changes, the paper noted; his new approach" would be "mostly rhetorical." Yet in his prime-time speech on Iraq--delivered before a quiet audience of troops at Fort Bragg on Tuesday evening--Bush proved the Post report wrong. There was no shift of strategy--rhetorical or otherwise. Bush delivered a flat recital of his previous justifications of the war, while offering vague assurances that (a) he realizes (really, really) that the war in Iraq is "hard" work and that (b) his administration is indeed winning the war. On that latter point, Bush mentioned no metrics (as Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld would call them)--that is, concrete indicators--to demonstrate that he holds a more accurate view of the war than, say, Republican Senator Chuck Hagel who days ago exclaimed, "The reality is that we're losing in Iraq." Bush's plan this night was rather transparent: assert success...and then assert it some more."

His references to our "coalition partners" were absolutely laughable, or in my case, brought about the urge to throw my glass at the television. Only my wife's suggestion that I turn the channel and a five minute diversion to the Wimbledon match between Sharapova and Petrova calmed this destructive urge.

Our fearless leader offered nothing new and continued to call upon Americans to sacrifice. Since none of his children or those of other well-heeled leaders are shedding their blood in Iraq, I say we bring our troops the (blanked out profanity) home now! I'm sick and tired of men like Bush, born with a silver spoon in his crack, talking to me and other working class Americans about sacrifice. President C- doesn't know the first thing about sacrifice--never has and never will. Why hard-working, honest people allow themselves to be deluded by this callous and dangerous divider of the American people continues to baffle me.

Hopefully, as his approval rating tumbles and other bombshells (like the Downing Street Memo) are brought forth, they might topple this imbecilic, syntax-challenged, war monger. Then again, half of the country has drunk the kool-aid and the other half are glued to the television waiting for the next shark attack or watching Nancy Grace.

Addendum:
Not sure how many listen to alternative radio, but if you do, check out the lyrics to System of a Down's song, "BYOB". Interesting in light of Smirky's speech with lyrics like, "Why don't presidents fight the war? Why do they always send the poor?" Why of course, so the twins, Jenna and Barbara, don't have to go!