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February 19, 2007
Bush vs. Murtha for "Commander in Chief"?
Novak chides Murtha for trying to "micromanage" the war -- something we've heard a lot lately from the right. To that I say, anyone's got to be better than George Bush. [Coincidentally, in an article on Hilary Clinton, today's NYTimes reports that Richard Mellon Scaife is now her former nemisis. Scaife says the obvious: in hindsight, the Clinton presidency was pretty damned good. His point of reference is obviously the last 6 years. Read the whole article and see that, no matter how good the Clinton years were, some on the rights would rather ruin the US -- and they're doing a damn good job -- than let a Clinton run things . . . or any Dem.]
But Novak -- playing the tip to the White House's spear -- tenders the argument that Murtha and the Democrats are interfering with Bush's war powers. Who cares if Bush is inept; we must not let the Democrats succeed, regardless of the cost? David Brook's recently referred to this as an impending "constitutional crisis" on PBS's "News Hour" -- an argument that was gaining no traction, apparently. So . . . take it away, Bob.
In classic Rove fashion, Novak trots out the old stories of Murtha as unindicted co-conspirator in the Abscam investigation. Murtha is "Mr. Pork." Murtha embarrassingly lost his race for House majority leader, as Speaker Pelosi's hand-picked choice.
Novak goes on. After the standard GOP hit-job on the character of the opponent du jour, Novak turns his attack on Pelosi. Noting Murtha's loss for the majority leader job, Novak says that nonetheless, Murtha is a key advisor on Iraq policy to Pelosi with California congressman George Miller -- whom, using a not-so-subtle ethnic slur, he calls Pelosi' s "consigliere," a term dropped into American culture through the movie "The Godfather." [Read: "She's not like 'us' good, red-blooded, white, southern, Christian coalition Americans. Granted, "consigliere" is a term used to describe many political advisors. But with Pelosi -- an Italian American -- it smells of Rove. I suspect she'll smartly not say a word about it.]
This is the White House's game plan -- treat the Iraq War as just another campaign, and trash the character of the opposition. Post-campaign policy and management? That's for weak-kneed Clintonites.
You can just imagine a news article, quoting Murtha, sitting on VP Cheney's desk full of hand-written notes saying: "Abscam," "pork buster," "Consigliere," "constitutional crisis" (with a line through it), "micromanage," and "commander in chief?"
One thing no one debates is Murtha's ties to the general's in the Pentagon. Not a single general -- not even Bush's handpicked toadies -- have complained that Murtha's plan to have the troops trained, equipped, and well armed is a negative . . . . Oops, I mean his "micromanaging."
Only the White House is complaining.
Oh, and did anyone notice that Al Qaeda's restored its chain of command? So not only has the Bush adminstration bogged us down in Iraq, spending 3000+ American lives plus $100s of billions in treasure. Not only has Bush alienated us from the rest of the world by opening the Middle East's Pandora Box. He's let Bin Laden restore the same level of control he had over his terror network that he had circa 9/11.
"A TRIPLE PLAY!"
God, don't you just love this White House.
Posted by shertaugh at February 19, 2007 6:35 AM
Comments
I guess constitutional law isn't practiced, or understood, by the left in this country.
To think that this Muller fellow is a law professor is frightening but explains a great deal as to why so many in this country are so uneducated as to the basics of our constitution and what powers it gives whom.
To liberals, the constitution is just a road block to get around (see activist judges, see the 9th circuit, see John Murtha, see Eric Muller)
ELM: Theo, this post was by guest-blogger Shertaugh, not by me. The post itself states that quite clearly if you bothered to read to the end of it.
Posted by: Theo Greenbart at February 19, 2007 5:27 PM