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It will be very interesting to see how it is played when some troops start being pulled out in the spring.

KBird on January 23, 2008 at 8:24 AM

It will be played out like it has always been played out in the MSM….ssshhhh

Is there anything besides some unexpected parliamentary moves towards sectarian reconciliation that could happen in Iraq between now and November to buttress the GOP’s “victory” narrative?

Other than all the rest of our efforts to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory?

I’m afraid to find out. Actually, I am more afraid we are going to find out, sooner than later, whether we like it or not.

AP’s Mickey Kaus link tells the whole story of our party’s situation. And it ain’t pretty. And while we’re on the subject, how’s the old wazoo? Well, I can tell by the pie on your tie. You’re an American, well so am I.

JM Hanes, I have to say, your kind of thinking is how we ended up with George Bush the second time around. George has destroyed the Republican party and there isn’t a chance in hell we’ll have the White House or the Congress come 2009. That’s why Rove got out while the getting was good. Hoping that people won’t remember the architect of the building that fell down, crushing it’s inhabatints.

And profitsbeard, I like Rudy and Romney, but the masses won’t. They’re not conservatives and folks are dead tired of voting for the least of two evils and then getting punched in the gut for doing so. That’s what gW did for you. In 8 years gW accomplished 1 goal. He put some good judges on the court. He accomplished absolutely nothing else and failed miserably at protecting Americans and helping Americans to have a better life. Which is all a government is suppose to do. Protect it’s citizens and help it’s citizens in their pursuit of happiness. gW did exactly the opposite. And then tried to cover up his failure with amnesty and tax-cuts. Of which neither took. The boy can’t win for losing.

And AZCON, I’ll see you there.

That kind of thinking is how we got the Clintons the first time around. You should probably prepare yourself for a generation in the wilderness, ’cause nobody’s going to be running to you for advice if happens — again.

A couple more benchmarks sure wouldn’t hurt. Frankly I think the “victory narrative” is more Democratic strawman than Republican talking point. Most Republicans just insist the surge is working, and that the objective should be victory not an exit plan, which is not the same thing at all.

“With the left backing away from congressional confrontations and the economy taking precedence for voters, the status quo would keep the issue in no man’s land. Bush seems intent upon that security agreement, though, which will reignite the whole debate three months before Election Day.”

If John McCain is the nominee, watching him try to run on domestic policy and economics would be a whole lotta ugly. Promising to eliminate pork is about as persuasive as claiming you’re going to institute the Fair Tax. Hillary, or almost any other Democrat, could out pander McCain blindfolded. And while McCain is greening America back to health and depressing tournout in his Republican base, Obama would be walking away with his putative Independents.

That said, however, I think it looks like Bush is preparing for the worst — as well he should given the current state of political affairs domestically. He knows that what Petraeus et al. need most is time, and what I hope he’s doing is trying to nail down anything that could conceivably slow the course for a potential Democrat successor.

Griz on January 22, 2008 at 10:42 PM

Right on Griz!

I’ll meet you over there at that new party. The GOP and Dem’s smell badly!

profitsbeard on January 22, 2008 at 11:58 PM

Dude.

I see a strong Romney-Rudy win in 2008.

And a renewed will to defeat the global jihad.

Which will be so pissed that its Defeatocratic allies lost that they will strike at us hard, overplay their weak hand, and be crushed by a reinvigorated, anti-Jihad America.

And OBL’s charred remains identified by DNA.

Ain’t gonna happen. They’re too busy gettin’ killed or captured and the survivors are runnin’ back to whatever country they came in from.

Besides, we WON Tet, we destroyed the V.C. as an effective fighting force. The media portrayed it as a loss for us, but they lied. The closest thing to a jihadi tet was the battle of Fallujah, with US on the offensive.

The Democraps will cut & run, and the Repubs can’t extricate themselves from Boosh’s idiocy.

Another lose-lose situation.

The conservatives should start their own party now to be in great position for ’12. America has been plodding along since WWII. There’ll be no more plodding in the next decade. Might as well get used to it, and ready for it.

You gotta have some bad times to appreciate the good times.

Surge success …. bad for donks.

Economy tanks …. good for donks.

They drink at the trough of misery and failure.

When you understand this enemy views children as weapons to be set against us, you understand this conflict is never ending.

Is there anything besides some unexpected parliamentary moves towards sectarian reconciliation that could happen in Iraq between now and November to buttress the GOP’s “victory” narrative?

I’m hearing from the left that they think the stability gained by the surge is temporary. Another 8 months or so of progress in keeping violence down will go far towards shitting them up.

McCain actually has acknowledged the success of the surge and said that Bush should get credit for changing tactics and the commander on the ground, FWIW.

Is there anything besides some unexpected parliamentary moves towards sectarian reconciliation that could happen in Iraq between now and November to buttress the GOP’s “victory” narrative?

No.

The patient has been stabilized, but still has multi-organ cancer.

Three chimps.

Bush seems intent upon that security agreement, though, which will reignite it three months before Election Day.

Bush should just let sleeping dogs lie if he cares at all for the Republican party.