So, I see Bush went to Iraq again.

[Plaid Adder]

You know, I am deeply disappointed that Rove will not be indicted at this time. However, I'm not sure that the fact that he's now at liberty to work his Rovian magic in 2006 is really going to be the crushing deathblow for the Democratic Party.

I mean look at this. What's his first move after getting the letter that says he's off the hook? "Hey, I know! Let's send Bush to Iraq! Let's make it a supercool secret mission! Let's kidnap a bunch of journalists and fly them over there and make them film it for us! It will convince everyone that Iraq is really, really, really stable now, and also convince them that you're brave! Your approval rating will skyrocket!"

Yeah. I can see that. Cause that's exactly what happened the last time they did this.

November 2003. You guys remember that? All those pictures of Bush out there with that platter with that turkey on it that the troops actually didn't end up eating? And then right after that, the insurgency crumbled, 24-hour power service was permanently restored to Baghdad, peace and security were established by the Iraqi army and police, and all the troops came home!

Dude. The hand of accountability passed over you without touching a hair of your head and this is all you can come up with to celebrate?

Have you forgotten what they taught you at Evil Mastermind University? You can fool most of the people most of the time, but not if you keep pulling the same motheaten rabbit out of the same goddamn hat!

I said it before and I'll say it again: we have already seen all the tricks in Rove's playbook. It is our goddamn fault if we get scammed again.

So let's just review what they are:

1. Making your guy out to be Christ himself come back to earth as Sylvester Stallone
2. Demonizing the opposition
4. Keeping your corrupt friends in charge of certifying the election results in key battleground states
5. Osama! 911! Osama! 911! Boogala boogala boogala!
6. Blackmail
7. Betrayal
8. When 1-7 fail: lie! Lie with flair! Lie with breathtaking audacity! Lie, lie, and lie again! Be amazed at how often the saps believe you, and then lie some more! But remember not to laugh while you're doing it!

You notice I put blackmail at #6. The Plame affair involves its own kind of blackmail; but that wasn't what I was thinking of. I have a new theory about why the Congressional Democrats can't seem to get their shit together. It may be a crackpot theory, but it least it has elegance on its side:

1. We know that the Bush administration has been spying on vast numbers of people in this country.
2. We know that there are people in the Bush administration who would have absolutely no scruples about spying on their political enemies.
3. We know that most politicians have skeletons in their closets which would potentially destroy their careers if they were aired abroad.
4. Wouldn't it be strange if Rove and the gang *weren't* using the NSA wiretapping 'program' to blackmail the Congressional Democrats?

Anyway. I would not underestimate's Rove's power as a criminal, a thug, and an extortionist. But I think his days a media magician are over. Manipulating perception has always been his thing. Since Bush's last trip to Baghdad, reality has crushed perception into a bloody pulp. He may as well concentrate on blackmail, corruption, and theft, because I don't think the sound and light show is really doing much for his boy. This Iraq trip got a fraction of the coverage that the first one got. I'll be interested to see whether SwiftBoat II: The Sequel draws viewers in the same numbers as the original.

The Plaid Adder

[louis-t]

1. I DO remember November 2003, I was a newbie

searching for a way to vent my frustration with my Republican family members and the crime family I knew was stealing the country blind. I was one of (if not the first) to recognize the phony plastic turkey our asshat presidunce wielded so easily (it should have weighed 25-30 lbs. with trimmings). I had almost begun to believe that all Democrats were unintelligent crybabys when, quite by accident, I discovered this wonderful site. Ignorance wasn't bliss, and the knowledge I've gained here isn't bliss either.

edit: Maybe I should rephrase the last line.

[Lefty48197]

2. Yeah! What a superhero he is!

Somehow, he was able to get into Iraq, without the grand poobah of the newly elected Iraqi Government even knowing it. Wow! What is he? Superman or something? He should have parachuted into the Green zone or something. Now THAT would have been impressive. He could have been shooting from the hip with an M50, like Schwartznegger does. Bush needs better writers. Is this the best they could come up with?

[louis-t]

3. And they couldn't photograph him in his body armor

Can you imagine how ridiculous he looks all bundled up and cranky?

Oh, and by the way, others that described having to wear suits under their body armor because they were "meeting with the new prime minister" or whatever, were wearing suits under their body armor because shithead insists everyone wear suits around him. The exalted one. The sociopath.