Bush: 2006 Elections Showed Mandate For "Surge"

[babylonsister]

http://electioncentral.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2007/apr/24/bush_2006_elections_were_mandate_for_surge

Bush: 2006 Elections Showed Mandate For "Surge"
By Greg Sargent | bio

Update: It gets even more intriguing. Steve Benen points out that Bush's argument today was strikingly similar to a Charles Krauthammer column from ten days ago.


Amazing. President Bush just wrapped up his latest attack on Congressional Dems over Iraq. Check out this remarkable bit of rhetorical hocus-pocus: (video at link)

Here's a transcript:

Last November the American people said they were frustrated and wanted change in our strategy in Iraq. I listened. Today General David Petraeus is carrying out a strategy that is dramatically different from our previous course. But the American people did not vote for failure, and that is precisely what the Democratic leadership’s bill would guarantee.

Got that? The American people voted in 2006 for a change of course in Iraq. Bush gave them a change of course in the form of a "surge." This shows, therefore, that he listened to the American people and gave them the change they wanted.

Never mind, of course, that Bush gave them precisely the opposite change that they asked for. It's sad that this needs to be restated, but polls have consistently shown majorities favoring withdrawal from Iraq and strong majorities opposed to the surge. Here's one. And here's another. The only thing you can do when confronted by such transparently deceptive rhetoric is sit back and marvel at the sheer audacity and desperation of it.

Relatedly, it's also worth noting that Bush actually may be right that Americans didn't vote for "failure." Because according to some polls, Americans simply don't appear to see the prospect of withdrawal in such terms -- that is, in the terms Bush wants them to. While I haven't been able to find perfect polling on that question, some surveys are suggestive. Polls show that Americans reject the notion that withdrawal is equivalent to surrender, and also reject the notion that it would represent a setback in the broader "war on terror."

So maybe the President got that one right, at least.

[underpants]

1. Okay this is a whole new level of Bizarro

I am actually worried

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. Just when I thought it couldn't get any weirder.

That guy has completely gone mad. I'll be surprised if any of us come out of this thing alive.

[MUAD_DIB]

9. We could just march on Washington...

We should all be called on to be citizen soldiers when our democracy is at risk.

[MessiahRp]

3. What a fucking lunatic

Down is Up, Stop is Go when you have evil in charge.

Rp

[AnneD]

4. Wait...

are we talking about the same election. The one where the Dem's took over the house, split the Senate and handed Bush and the GOP a "thumping" I believe is the way he said it.

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

5. He must be thinking of a different election.

Maybe he's having one of those 'flashbacks' they all promised us in the '60s. :shrug:

[Up2Late]

6. "Surge" of what? Protests? Anger?

The guy is clearly Delusional and unfit to serve.:banghead: :argh:

[eppur_se_muova]

7. "strikingly similar to a ... column from ten days ago" Why not just say he copied it?

Bu**sh** can't think of even marginally believable rationalizations using his own brainpower, so he steals 'em wherever he can find 'em.

To acknowledge truth wherever it happens to appear, we didn't vote for failure. It was forced on us by the SCOTUS.

[damntexdem]

8. It is futile to point out how twisted Dubya's statements are.

Until Congress gets real about impeachment, Dubya's doublespeak and doublethink will still rule his administration, so much of what this country does. It's not just the spinelessness of so many Democrats -- it is amazing to me that so many Republicans can stand aghast at hearing what comes out of this Administration and not immediately clamor for impeachment.

[CJCRANE]

10. * just creates his own reality n/t

[sinkingfeeling]

11. What alternate universe is this idiot in? The election took place before the 'surge' was even a

gleam in Bush's tiny brain. The Iraq Study Group's report didn't happen until after the election! That's what started idiot boy off on his 'surge'.

[EC]

12. I'll never forget the day that Pelosi and Reid met with Bush

after Katrina...when Bushie said that nothing went wrong that everything worked as it should....The look on Pelosi's face said it all, she looked scared like she just realized the guy was insane....