Bush's Isolation

If there is any truth to the beltway rumor of Bush's isolation, it would not surprise me. Bush backed the wrong camp. For the past couple of years, Bush has systemically removed, rejected, ignored the most astute in his administration and invariably those most loyal to him. The two camps within the Bush administration could not be more diametrically opposed. Advocates of the Bush Doctrine (you are either with us or against in the war on the global jihad) have all but fallen away - Rumsfeld and the Senior Pentagon officials that followed him, Dick Cheney,  Richard Perle, etc. and John Bolton?(with a Republican  House,  Senate, and White House, they did a piss poor job of confirming that man.)  These  folks understood the enemy, then struggle , and they were loyal to Bush. LOYAL. They know who the enemy is and how to win. Courage.

Bush has been ill served by the "winners" in the internal struggle for his heart and mind. The administration's fifth column, Colin Powell, Dick Armitage, Steven Hadley, Nic Burns (I can't stand him), Condi Rice have won the day. And America is the biggest loser.

There was nothing wrong with the Bush Doctrine, it was (and still is, now more than ever) the right plan at the right time. Bush was subverted by a fifth column media bias and the absence of a messenger to define to the American people the war the global jihad is waging on us.

If Bush is isolated, it is because he has no friends in the WH. And maybe there can be no "friends" in the White House, but certainly there can be loyalty and there is none now. Bush is surrounded by sharks and the new direction in foreign policy is a slippery slope to hell. Bringing in James "Fuck the Jews" Baker's  brand of realpolitik will be an unmitigated disaster, empowering the barbaric Islamists. Read Mark Steyn's, Iraq is just a test of will for America here.

Rumsfeld memo highlights Bush isolation Financial Times

President George W. Bush’s isolation over Iraq deepened on Sunday following the publication of the leaked memo from sacked defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld calling for a “major adjustment” in Iraq policy.

John Warner, the outgoing Republican chairman of the Senate armed services committee, told NBC’s Meet the Press that the president should respect the will of the people, and seek agreement with the Democrat leaders of the new Congress on a new Iraq policy.

The dhimmicrats never respected the will of the people when they elected a Republican President, House and Senate, why should they now?

Meanwhile, top Democrats attacked the president for appearing to dig in his heels ahead of the publication on Wednesday of the bipartisan Baker-Hamilton report on Iraq. Carl Levin, the incoming chairman of the Senate armed services committee, said “his stubbornness has continued…it seems to me to be more of the same.”

Carl Levin?

The pressure on the President, who last week insisted there would be no “graceful exit” from Iraq, comes ahead of what may prove a defining week in US Iraq policy.

On Monday Mr Bush meets Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, leader of the big gest party in Iraq’s governing coallition, while on Tuesday Robert Gates, the nominee to replace Mr Rumsfeld as defence secretary, faces confirmation hearings. More here

Bush never should have left Rumsfeld go. Never. That Rumsfeld memo is here.

UPDATE: One editor's moxie is another blogger's balls. Whatever. Barnes sees it too.

The president, stung by the defeat of Republicans in the midterm election, may be reluctant to step out on his own. The safer tack would be to negotiate with Congress to pass legislation in hopes of enhancing the legacy of his presidency. That's the normal exit strategy for presidents.

But Bush has little to lose and much to gain by acting on his own. His legacy will be determined largely by the outcome in Iraq and in the war on terror--and we may not know that verdict for years. Congressional passage of a compromise measure on, say, immigration or education reform would be nice, but neither is likely to affect his legacy in a major way. So why not be bold and go unilateral?

Here are ways the president can do just that. All they require is maximum moxie.

Go here and read his recommendations.

Victor Davis Hanson on the majority opinion vs. the minority opinion here.

Comments

[neverforget]

Warner is a dipshit. If President Bush stands firm, then we will see attempts to cut off funds and impeachment by the traitor party.

[Irish Cicero]

We are surrounded by hostile forces and completely dominated by Fifth Column types. Our President has, as I've said in the past, already lost the War on Terror by not sufficiently communicating what we need to do, and we, past all the opposition, which is made up of girly-men and pipsqueaks. It is not too late to revive the Bush Doctrine. It will just need to be revived by a different President. 'Fraid we're in for a strange two years.

I'll still support the President, patriot that I am, but I have no delusions about how serious this situation is.

SITUATION FUBAR, and getting worse.

[Irish Cicero]

"by not sufficiently communicating what we need to do, and we . . . "

I meant to say WHY, not we.

That's what I get for now previewing.

Good night.

[gmee]

"Bush has been ill served by the "winners" in the internal struggle for his heart and mind. The administration's fifth column, Colin Powell, Dick Armitage, Steven Hadley, Nic Burns (I can't stand him), Condi Rice have won the day. And America is the biggest loser."

Personally, I think Mr. Bush SHOULD negotiate with Iran & Syria. The negotiations should be very simple. Something like this: "Get your ass out of Iraq or we will systematically destroy every military base in your country. You have seven days to comply. On day 8..."

I also think Mr. Bush should arrange negotiations with Al Queada, right after AQ's unconditional surrender to US forces.

Greg

[M. Simon]

It is starting to sink in to the Dems that Bush broke it. They bought it, and now they are expected to fix it.

It is enough to sober even a Democrat.

[DoctorDentons]

Yes, we have a problem...in fact a few of them and if our leadership (?) doesn't act swiftly to plug all the holes in the dyke we are going to be in deeper doo doo than we already are...I for one would like to see the State Dept. completely disbanded and some straight talking person (read: John Bolton)given a Cabinet Position Called "The Straight Shit" and let him have free rein to "talk" to our enemies about the facts of life...and limb. We need to start doing something, like yesterday...dipl;omacy is not the way to go.

[Lawrence]

Another great blog post, Pam.

I just wish more women out there would use their common sense in the same way you do.

This would make another great topic for a book chapter, should you ever consider writing one.

[Pamela Geller]

Lawrence, I would love to write a book but I have no time. The blog first. Always.And it is very time consuming.

I carry the laptop in my bag .......thank Gd my kids are into it.

[mokiebear]

Bolton just resigned

[shmujew]

bombings in iraq? you mean muslims hate each other? WOW whoda thunk it

[Freedom Fighter]

The so-called Bush Doctrine was definitely the right way to go.

Too bad we lack a president capable, then or now, of implementing it.