Clift: Mr. Magoo? (Like Magoo, * always stumbles into good fortune)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.msnbc.com/news/944207.asp?0cl=c1

Presidents can’t be perfect. Sometimes they make mistakes. That was Bill Clinton’s message on the Larry King show this week when the former president called for a truce on the 16 State of the Union words that have sent the current administration into damage-control overdrive.

DEMOCRATS DIDN’T APPRECIATE the free advice. “He was off-message,” complained a congressional aide.

Clinton obviously hadn’t read the Democratic National Committee’s talking points, because generosity toward George W. Bush is not among them. The Democratic presidential candidates are hammering away at the incumbent. Even Dick Gephardt, who supported the Iraq war and shepherded the war resolution through the House, is invoking images of quicksand and quagmire. Sen. Ted Kennedy reminded the country how his brother, John F. Kennedy took responsibility for the Bay of Pigs. When would Bush own up to his role in the 16-word Niger caper?
Maybe Clinton is onto something. Around the country, people aren’t worried about uranium from Africa. They are worried about the almost daily killing of our boys in Iraq. The 16 words have to be seen in the context of developments on the ground in Iraq. Clearly Bush got a boost with the elimination of Saddam Hussein’s sons, Uday and Qusay, whose demise suggests progress toward the larger goal of ridding Iraq of Baath Party loyalists. It is probably inevitable now that Saddam will be found.

“This is proof that God looks after George W. Bush,” said a Republican strategist, who dubbed the timely deaths of Saddam’s sons, “Bush’s Magoo moment.” Bush is like the hapless cartoon figure Mr. Magoo who stumbles unaware through mishap after mishap but somehow manages to emerge unscathed.

[Cocoa]

1. she acts like Bush's teflon just "happens"

Bush has teflon because the mainstream press protects him.

The fact that the uranium flap has gained prominence is just a fluke. That lie isn't by any means the most scandal-worthy thing that Bush has done.

[karlschneider]

2. It's a pretty fair piece, but I have to wonder about the phrase

"probably inevitable."

It's like "possibly certain" - which makes me think of "a little bit pregnant."

Exposition of excessive verbiage renders the message vacuous and arcane.

:D

[diplomats]

3. She makes a good point about the Dems

trying to make hay on issues they can't control. There is inherent danger in that. BTW, the phrase "Magoo Moment" is apt. Even the strategist knows Bush is a goofball who keeps escaping.

[JackSwift]

4. George and his pals

just do what they want, and ignore the stuff that needs getting done.