Republicans Say Bush Needs to Do More to Rebuild Iraq Support

[sabra]

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aYlRQlPq0W2U&refer=us

Republicans Say Bush Needs to Do More to Rebuild Iraq Support

Dec. 15 (Bloomberg) -- President George W. Bush's effort to rebuild support for his Iraq policy has only partly satisfied fellow Republicans, who say he still must do more to explain his strategy.

...

``The president has responded to calls for a great deal more information, candor, inclusion -- and I think that's been helpful,'' Republican Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, said yesterday after the speech. ``But much more will be required.''

``What Bush has done is initiate another phase in the debate about Iraq,'' said Vin Weber, a Washington lobbyist and former Republican member of Congress who is close to the administration.

Bush has ``not yet'' swayed public opinion in his favor on Iraq, Weber said, adding there is ``plenty of time to turn things around'' before Republican lawmakers face re-election in 2006.

[Javaman]

1. He* could quit, for starters. n/t

[hatrack]

2. He's been giving carefully staged speeches before screened audiences!!

I mean, geez, what more could he POSSIBLY be doing!?!?!

:sarcasm:

[electropop]

3. I encourage him to keep talking about Iraq too.

Keep it front and center. This issue hurts him and the GOP more every time he opens his smirking, lying mouth.

[MissMarple]

4. George is reacting to mounting criticism, he's not "initiating" anything..

A Republican lobbyist spins it this way:
"``What Bush has done is initiate another phase in the debate about Iraq,'' said Vin Weber, a Washington lobbyist and former Republican member of Congress who is close to the administration."

But the Bloomberg writer says this:
...
"Lawmakers in both parties said a major turning point for both Congress and the administration came on Nov. 15 as Bush was on his way to Asia for a Pacific Rim summit. On that day, the Republican-controlled Senate voted 79-19 to demand that he explain his strategy for ending the war and report every three months on progress until all U.S. troops in Iraq are redeployed.

``It was one of the most significant votes in all my years here,'' said Senator Joseph Biden, a Delaware Democrat who has urged Bush to change course in Iraq while supporting his refusal to set a timetable for withdrawal, at a Dec. 13 news conference. ``Seventy-nine senators said with specificity in language: `Mr. President, you don't have a plan.'''

Murtha's Call

Two days after the Senate vote, Pennsylvania Democrat John Murtha, a leader on defense issues in the House and a Vietnam War veteran, called for the administration to begin pulling troops out of Iraq, saying the military has accomplished all that it could.

The administration's initial reaction was unyielding. On Nov. 17, presidential counselor Dan Bartlett promised a ``sustained'' counterattack against critics. Then, in Beijing two days after Barlett's comment, Bush softened his tone, saying that critics ``have every right to voice their dissent'' and that the debate showed the importance of the war."...


But George's reaction isn't so good. He actually thinks he outlined a plan for success and admitted missteps. :eyes:

[Orsino]

5. He Needed to Do More to Rebuild *Iraq*, God Damn It.

But that'll never happen.

[madmark]

6. If only GWB would apply more lipstick to that pig

[mnmoderatedem]

7. can't be done

Past the point of no return. The genie's out of the bottle. The toothpaste can't be put back in the tube.

Pick your metaphor.

[stepnw1f]

8. America/Iraq will Get Support When Bush Resigns or

gets Impeached.

[Plaid Adder]

9. You cannot explain that which you do not know.

"Explain" his strategy? What is the matter with these Republicans that they think he HAS a strategy?

Sigh,

The Plaid Adder

[MiniMe]

10. He has a stragegy?? nt

[stickdog]

11. He has a great strategery. You just, er, can't see it yet.

But I assure you that it looks magnificient and is made of only the finest materials in the entire kingdom.