Helen Thomas: Bush can look to LBJ for a way out

[Newsjock]

... In recent years, Bush claims he has been reading a lot of history, especially the biographies of presidents.

I'd like him to study the last year of the presidency of fellow Texan Lyndon B. Johnson, who knew when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em.

It took a lot of courage on the part of LBJ, a consummate politician, to throw in the towel in 1968 when it was clear that the Vietnam War was unwinnable.

Some generals kept telling him what he wanted to hear, that victory was possible.

But he also heard from Gen. William Westmoreland -- the commander in Vietnam from 1964 to 1968 -- that he needed 240,000 more troops. That did it for Johnson, not to mention his fading hopes for reelection. He was also hearing the uproar from the streets.

Bush should call it quits and bow out of Iraq. That way he can save lives and salvage some of his legacy in his waning presidency.

Read more: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/336143_thomas21.html

[LakeSamish706]

1. I want to see us get out of Iraq, but I don't want to see these thugs...

skate out with not doing some time in the Hague either..

[tomreedtoon]

2. From what I remember, hatred of Johnson ended...

...when he announced his resignation. His resignation made him look like a beaten dog.

And I don't remember what, if anything, he did after the end of his term. He just sort of disappeared and died. And the memory that he did a lot of domestic good (Head Start, the Kennedy Center, support for education, real progress on civil rights) got lost as well.

However, the hatred passed on to his chosen successor, his Vice President, Hubert Humphrey. The fact that Johnson had let it be known he would "like" Humphrey to get the nomination - a shoo-in at the Democratic Party - is what inspired the protests at the Democratic Convention and Humphrey's defeat to Nixon in 1968.

Maybe that's the reason the Republicans want to distance themselves from Bush. Anyone he picks as his successor - and Hillary Clinton seems to be his "unofficial" choice - will be dragged down with him.

[Demeter]

3. Heart Attack?

I could support that exit strategy! But Cheney First!

[CGowen]

4. "who knew when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em."?; Bush is going all in with 7-2 off suit n/t