Blood Runs Red, Not Blue

Bob Herbert has a great OP-Ed column in the NY Times

You have to wonder whether reality ever comes knocking on George W. Bush's door. If it did, would the president with the unsettling demeanor of a boy king even bother to answer? Mr. Bush is the commander in chief who launched a savage war in Iraq and now spends his days happily riding his bicycle in Texas.

This just irks me that this man is riding his bicycle while our soldiers our dying. What leader would be on vacation while this is going on? Oh, I forgot his cohort is also on vacation but nobody knows where he has gone on holiday.

The president has never been clear about why we're in Iraq. There's no plan, no strategy. In one of the many tragic echoes of Vietnam, U.S. troops have been fighting hellacious battles to seize areas controlled by insurgents, only to retreat and allow the insurgents to return.

If Mr. Bush were willing to do something he has refused to do so far - speak plainly and honestly to the American people about this war - he might be able to explain why U.S. troops should continue with an effort that is, in large part at least, benefiting Iraqi factions that are murderous, corrupt and terminally hostile to women. If by some chance he could make that case, the next appropriate step would be to ask all Americans to do their part for the war effort.

He can't do that because he is living in George Bush la la land. His poll number are the lowest ever a new SurveyUSA pollexamining the president's approval ratings in all 50 states found that his nationwide approval is only 41%. His lowest approval rating is in Rhode Island, where only 29% approve of the job he's doing and his highest rating is in Idaho where 59% of the people approve of the job he is doing. Guess where his next trip is going to be?

Give up?

Come on guess... he needs to be around the carefully selected people who love him.

You Got it!!! Idaho

There is something very, very wrong with this picture.

If the war in Iraq is worth fighting - if it's a noble venture, as the hawks insist it is - then it's worth fighting with the children of the privileged classes. They should be added to the combat mix. If it's not worth their blood, then we should bring the other troops home.