Entries for August 2007

When Congress returns to work soon, the White House is confident it can thwart any Democratic move to at least start a troop withdrawal from Iraq. That confidence may be misplaced in the case of Congress and almost surely in the case of a public worn out by the call for patience.

President Bush has asked for an additional $50 billion for the war on top of the over $400 billion spent or wasted. It amounts to a defiant act, daring Democrats to risk the tag of being disloyal to the troops.

Another holier-than-thou Republican, Sen. Larry Craig of Idaho, has been caught after allegedly engaging in lewd conduct in the Twin Cities airport. His explanation of how he pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and why he wants to change his story has questionable merit.

Two Republican spin doctors and a GOP dirty-trick artist were prominent in the news in recent days. Democrats should celebrate this trifecta.

The Spinner in Chief was our president. He just can't get his story straight on the war in Iraq. With a straight face, he compared leaving Iraq to leaving Vietnam, the last foolish war.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City has been rather emphatic that he is not running for president and thinks an Independent or Third Party nominee is destined to lose.

Bloomberg is right on both counts. In running, he would only mar his good record at City Hall if he struggled outside the two-party system. At the same time, an Independent faces many obstacles, even with a wealthy man like Bloomberg picking up the tab. (Just ask billionaire Texan Ross Perot.)

A loose organization called Unity08 is trying to muster interest in a third choice. Republican Doug Bailey and Democrat Jerry Rafshoon, both veterans of presidential campaigns, are leading the effort. While it is a sincere move to use the Internet to spark interest among those unhappy with the choices of the major parties, it has mountains to climb.

For those looking for a respite from Karl Rove, there will be no interlude. He'll be out there telling tales for the rest of the month and when he returns to Texas.

Less than a week after his announced departure from the White House, Rove was still hard at work spinning failures into victories. He literally has no shame or regard for the public record.

As Karl Rove leaves town with a questionable legacy and a Republican Party in search of a new leader, a new direction may be in order.

Meet the late Bob Teeter and John Deardourff.

All of us can empathize with the grief of one who has lost a husband, son, wife, or daughter in Iraq. The death toll has climbed to over 3,200 and does not include the tens of thousands who have been seriously maimed or psychologically scarred.