The Political Chase

Bush interview with WP - Part 2

Part 2 of President Bush’s interview with The Washington Post.

The Post presses the President on his statement that the November election was not a mandate to end U.S. involvement in Iraq. Instead of answering the question, he resorts to the oft used tactic of fear-mongering and doesn’t answer the question. This approach is threadbare.

WP: But the election results seemed people wanted to bring the venture in Iraq to closure. That seemed to be the strong lesson. And what indications are there that you’re actually listening to that sentiment?

President Bush: Oh, Mike, look, I want to achieve the objective. I think the American people — I know the American people are very worried about an external threat and that they recognize that failure in Iraq would embolden that external threat.

And then, there is further confirmation the President is head strong on obtaining victory, whatever that may be.

WP: But there are a lot of people who are saying, “Let’s get out with a phased deployment over a certain period of time.”

President Bush: If they felt — if that leads to victory, it needs to be seriously considered.

Obviously Bush was caught off guard here. He steps way out into left field trying to answer the question. Too far out in left field for me.

WP: President Lincoln fired a number of his generals in the Civil War until he found Grant.

President Bush: Is that what triggered your question, looking at Abe?

WP: Why haven’t you fired any generals? And does the fact that you haven’t fired generals suggest that you are satisfied with the military strategy that they have pursued?

President Bush: We’re reviewing the strategy, because it has — the results aren’t — we haven’t achieved the results as quickly as we wanted — precisely what the secretary of defense said, by the way. And the chain-of-command issues are issues that percolate up through the Pentagon. And there is a clear chain of command that I adhere to, and I think it’s important for the commander in chief to do just that.

I’ve often talked about how it’s important to trust the judgment of the military when they’re making military plans as the key advisers to the president, as opposed to the president determining the tactics on the ground, which has happened in previous wars. And so I’m a strict adherer to the command structure.

The WP asked the President if the November election was “a repudiation of Iraq and the fact that we’re not winning in Iraq,” or was it “a judgment of your leadership in general? Tough question! They may as well have asked him when did he quit beating his wife.

Bush’s answer consists of too many passages to quote here. His response was “war is difficult,” and then actually blamed Congress for the election results. Bush said, “You’ve got a guy using earmarks to enrich himself; there was sex and all kinds of issues that sent the signal that perhaps it was time to give another group a chance to lead.”

Furthermore, he had the chutzpah to say the American people are “tired of the needless partisanship in Washington.” Needless partisanship? Who was standing in the bully pulpit saying a vote for the Democratic Party is voting for American defeat, a vote for the terrorists to win?

The WP posed various questions on multiple issues, which the President answered ad nauseam he had and would work with the Democrats to create solutions. The Post should have asked him when he planned to start working with the Democrats because he has yet to fulfill those promises.

Finally, the Post seized a great opportunity to stick their finger in Bush’s eye when the topic came to media coverage of the President.

President Bush: You’re the objective filter through which my — (Laughter.)

WP: I suspect your message gets out. (Laughter.)

President Bush: I do want to say something about the press. I hope you realize that, one, I enjoy the relationship, and two, know it is vital for my presidency. You can’t exist without me, and I can’t exist without you. And I generally respect the hard work of the press corps. I don’t necessarily generally respect every word you write, but nevertheless, I do respect the fact that you’re a hardworking group of people seeking the truth. And we’re necessary for each other. And that relationship can either be a positive relationship or a suspicious, harmful relationship. And I have worked hard to make it a positive relationship. And I think it is, generally

I do believe it is. And I bear no ill will, and I don’t think you do, either.

WP: We appreciate that, and you’ve certainly been good for business –