Daniel Cody - “Left on the Lake”

In his umpteenth ‘major speech’ trying to convince the American people that things in Iraq are going really really great, President Bush brought some new material with him for once in the form of a shiny important looking brochure.

Just like some musty old binder hidden away in KFC headquarters that contains the Colonel’s Secret Receipe of herbs and spices for fried chicken, this document is supposed to contain the untill now secret receipe for a winning strategy in Iraq.

Why we’re only now being told the winning strategy for a war started three years ago is another discussion.

The point is that this document from the ‘National Security Council’ is supposed to change American’s minds that the war Iraq has been going just great so far, is only going to get better, and the President really does have a clue about what we’re doing over there.

However, just like a piece of KFC fried chicken, it’s not a whole lot of meat surronded by a bunch of unfilling deep fried fluff. Here’s the definition of ‘victory’ in the short term:

An Iraq that is making steady progress in fighting terrorists and neutralizing the insurgency, meeting political milestones; building democratic institutions; standing up robust security forces to gather intelligence, destroy terrorist networks, and maintain security; and tackling key economic reforms to lay the foundation for a sound economy.

So uh, when do the troops get to come home again according to this? And what’s ’short term’, ‘mid term’ and ‘long term’ exactly?

Like I’ve said a hundred times before, the Bush administration should start laying out real examples of what it’s going to take to at the very least end the war in Iraq, not just recycle the same slogans and sound bites into a flimsy ‘victory’ document stampted with an official sounding name.

If he’s unwilling or unable to do that, it’s up to Democrats and Republicans in Congress to start taking on the issue and forcing and end to the war.

Just a heads up that the annual holiday party for the 4th CD Democrats of Wisconsin is comming up this weekend and anyone from the 4th CD is welcome to swing by and say hi/

It’s this Saturday, December 3, from 5pm to 8pm at the Labor Council (633 S. Hawley Road) just South of the well known ‘center of power’.

Wondering where the 4th congressional district even is? Check out this handy google map that outlines it’s boundries. There is a $5.00 donation to attend with prizes and a potluck dinner, hope to see you there!

Now with new & improved baby crawling action!

The twist this time is the Represenative from California actually admits his guilt:

Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy and tax charges and tearfully resigned from office, admitting he took $2.4 million in bribes to steer defense contracts to conspirators. - CNN.com

(Short on posting the last week due to holidays and a bout of food poisoning)

Another grim milestone for American’s today as the the death toll reached two thousdand one hundred U.S. soldiers dead since the Iraq war began.

Not even one month has passed since we hit the 2,000 mark. That’s over one hundred American soldiers killed in under 30 days, and the rate at which our soldiers are dying is increasing with each passing month. Has anything been acomplished in the last month that justifies those soldiers deaths?

Will anything be acomplished in the next six months that will justify the loss of another 600-800 men and women to their families, friends and loved ones?

How will the Republican slime machine label the leaders in Iraq now that they’re calling for a timetable for US troops to withdraw? Traitors? Cowards? Are they joining Democrats by ‘waving the white flag to terrorists’ as well?

Reaching out to the Sunni Arab community, Iraqi leaders called for a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces and said Iraq’s opposition had a “legitimate right” of resistance. - AP

Let’s see: Democrats want a timetable. American citizens want a timetable. The Iraqi government wants a timetable. Everyone wants a timetable for the withdrawn of troops it seems, except for the Republican controlled United States Government.

How is it they’re the only ones who refuse to acknowledge the reality of the situation?

Man oh man, the White House is really starting to get out there these days. Following up yesterdays comments from Rep. Murtha about the need to leave Iraq in six months, the White House issues this statement:

Congressman Murtha is a respected veteran and politician who has a record of supporting a strong America. So it is baffling that he is endorsing the policy positions of Michael Moore and the extreme liberal wing of the Democratic party. The eve of an historic democratic election in Iraq is not the time to surrender to the terrorists. After seeing his statement, we remain baffled — nowhere does he explain how retreating from Iraq makes America safer.

If you oppose the war, you’re surrendering to ‘terrorists’.

If you oppose the war, you’re one of those ‘extreme liberals’ like MICHAEL FREAKIN MOORE!

You know things are getting bad for the White House when they’re back to trying to link Michael Moore of all people to their enemies. Whatever.

Here’s what mainstream American’s really think:

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll:
“In general, do you approve or disapprove of the job that George W. Bush is doing in handling the situation in Iraq?”

Approve: 32%
Disapprove: 64%

ABC News/Washington Post Poll:
“All in all, considering the costs to the United States versus the benefits to the United States, do you think the war with Iraq was worth fighting, or not?”

Worth Fighting: 39%
Not Worth Fighting: 60%

CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll:
“Here are four different plans the U.S. could follow in dealing with the war in Iraq. Which ONE do you prefer? Withdraw all troops from Iraq immediately. Withdraw all troops by November 2006 — that is, in 12 months’ time. Withdraw troops, but take as many years to do this as are needed to turn control over to the Iraqis. OR, Send more troops to Iraq.”

Now/12 Months: 52%
Take as Long As Needed To Withdraw: 38%
Send More Troops: 7%

The number of American’s who want our troops home and think the Bush administration is doing a poor job in Iraq are only going to increase as time goes on.

I also expect the labeling of anyone who disagrees with the White House as ‘traitors’, ‘cowards’, ‘extreme liberals’, etc.. to incease as well.

Vice President Cheney, of all the people on planet earth, is now calling Democrats ‘dishonest’ for questioning pre-war intelligence… Hello, pot? Kettle. Planet Earth on line 2.

In the sharpest White House attack yet on critics of the Iraq war, Vice President Dick Cheney said on Wednesday that accusations the Bush administration manipulated intelligence to justify the war were a “dishonest and reprehensible” political ploy. - MSNBC

Meanwhile, Pres. Bush is engaged in what his aides are calling a huge ‘offensive push’ to blast those who are questioning the use and manipulation of pre-war intelligence by the administration. Are they hoping that by being on the offensive against 57% of Americans who believe that the President did knowingly manipulate intelligence to make the case for war they’re going to somehow gain support for their failed Iraq policy?

It’s funny that over the last five years, all it took for Bush to regain some level of popularity was a raise in the terror alert level or for him to come out swinging against some fabricated bad guy. This time though, I don’t think it’s going to work, especially against Democrats and average citizens who are simply asking questions about our run up to war.

By attacking Democrats and citizens rather than answering the questions being posed to them, the Bush administration is really just continuing to dig a deeper hole for itself.

Meanwhile, troops and innocent civilians continue to die in Iraq on a daily basis. There is no exit strategy, there is no plan, and there’s no leadership from this administration who’s #1 priority now seems to hatchet job it’s critics.

Quick news story about the Citywide Wireless initiative for Milwaukee this morning: According to the Journal Sentinal, the common council approved planned negotiations with Midwest Fiber Networks yesterday, which is the first big step in moving the whole plan forward.

Negotiations could lead to extra cash for the city or, more likely, compensation in the form of free wireless access for those in the parks and public housing projects, or reduced rates for low-income residents.

The part that concerns me there is the ‘more likely’ quote, which seems to indicate that the city of Milwaukee is going to get less than what could be it’s fair share of monetary revenue off this deal. Discounted rates for low income families is a wonderful idea, but more needs to be given to the city - in my opinion - in return for the position Midwest Fiber has been given.

Testing posting on the new server… Meanwhile:

Same ole crap from the Bush administration.

Check out this comparison of recent ‘major’ speeches by the President.

Maybe if they can’t come up with anything new to defend the war in Iraq we shouldn’t be supporting it, eh?