It seems George Bush just can't catch a break right about now — and, for him, it appears the situation may be about to get worse.
His nominee to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the enigmatic White House Counsel Harriet Miers, is finding opposition on the left and the right as calls for withdrawing her nomination intensify.
Meanwhile, as American support for his invasion and occupation of Iraq drops significantly, more bad news has emerged: The US military death toll in Iraq has hit the 2000 mark.
And then, there is Plamegate: Over the weekend, Bush reportedly was warned that the federal grand jury investigation of the alleged leaking of the identity of a covert CIA operative may bring bad news for the administration sooner rather than later. Rumors say as many as five indictments may come down — perhaps later today; CBS News corroborates the scuttlebutt. That news must be a wee bit scary, to say the least, for those implicated in the scandal: White House senior adviser Karl Rove; Lewis "Scooter" Libby, chief of staff for the vice-president; and perhaps even Libby's boss, Dick Cheney. Others may be involved in alleged shenanigans as well, and the possible nefarious activity may include an illegal coverup.
Might Bush's own day of reckoning be on its way? While reveling in schadenfreude is abhorrent, he must be held accountable for what he has wrought, and it can not come too soon.
Think about it: Determined to reverse settled law he doesn't like, he nominated a crony — a political and judicial question mark-- for a lifetime appointment on the highest court in the land. Behind closed doors, at least one right-wing religious leader was told not to worry, wink, wink, nudge, nudge, say no more. Meanwhile, as the administration refused to allow access to position papers Miers wrote as White House counsel, rank-and-file Americans and their senators learned precious little about her. And yet, the Resident expected them to confirm her. "Trust me," Shrubbie said, as if that would settle the matter.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Cunning Linguist
Karma?
So when are the Clintons going to be punished for all the bad things they have done Natalie?
2 - Liberal
If you mean balancing the budget, reducing the size of the Federal government and reducing the welfare rolls, I think you're right.
We should ignore the possible criminal conspiracy to defraud the American people into supporting an unjustified war that has killed nearly 30,000 people and investigate...no wait...that doesn't make any sense.
Hmm, as much as I try to agree with Republicans, I can't. They just don't never make any sense.
3 - Dave Nalle
I just have to point out that Reagan had people indicted by the bucketful and it didn't slow him down one bit, or make him any less loved or popular as a leader.
dave
4 - Liberal
I just have to point out that Reagan thought that trees cause air pollution.
5 - Dave Nalle
They do, because they attract loggers and the loggers chainsaws burn gas. See, it's just a logical chain of events. Just like roads cause pollution because they attract cars.
Dave
6 - Liberal
"Suicidal Trees!" Film at eleven!
7 - Nancy
Bloody Bush! Finally someone else saying what I have been since the inception of this maggot's administration: he has American blood on his hands, and their deaths on his head. 2,000 Americans are dead for the noble cause of Smirk's ego: he wanted to be a War President, just like Poppy. And Cheney, Rumsfield, Rove, Libby, & the rest of the neocons were only too happy to help him do it.
God damn them all to the deepest levels of Hell for eternity - as Dante had it, the traitors' level.
8 - Natalie Davis
Mr./Ms. Linguist, I hope it is soon. Being accountable for misdeeds is something that is inevitable for everyone, not just the Bush junta.
9 - Natalie Davis
Oh -- and to defuse any erroneous suppositions right up front -- I supported the impeachment of Clinton.
10 - Natalie Davis
Mr. Nalle, you make a good point. Indictments do not equal convictions. The difference here is that Shrubbie isn't quite so popular, and as more people internalize the depths of his sins, he could become less so.
11 - Maurice
'You may be a Cunning Linguist but I'm a Master Debater'
I think it is interesting that people on the sidelines are so anxious to declare public figures guilty before being sentenced and in this case guilty before being indicted.
Think of the people that were convinced Reagan was guilty in IranContra. Think of the people that were convinced Clinton was going to jail for Whitewater.
How about if we wait before we convict?
12 - Aaman
It's all just bread and circuses
13 - phil
Nancy, those who side with the terrorists, are terrorists!
14 - Nancy
Bullshit! Another lame attempt to demonize those that disagree w/Bloody Bush. Some of us at least are already aware of that tactic & have read Goering. Nice try, fool.
15 - Maurice
Don't respond to Nancy. She is a self proclaimed racist and hate monger.
16 - Nancy
Maurice, I explained my error & apologized. I didn't understand the term. I also asked you to please explain, and you haven't bothered, nor have you bothered to respond to my apology. You just keep repeating personal lies. That's your problem, not mine. I'm not grovelling to you.
17 - Maurice
Nancy,
this is my LAST response to you.
I asked you if you were a 'racist and hated religious people'.
You replied 'Goddam right!'
If another post to me you claimed 'everyone is a racist in their own way'.
None of those comments are acceptable.
That is why I say you are a 'self proclaimed racist'.
18 - Natalie Davis
Mr. Phil, arguably Bloody Bush is the terrorist. Those committed to peace don't side with terrorists on either side of your war.
Mr. Maurice, I wrote that "indicted" does not equal "guilty." Do I believe someone is guilty? Absolutely, but I don't know who.
And guilty people are sometimes acquitted. Can you say OJ?
19 - Nancy
You are intent on continuing to misunderstand & misinterpret comments I have made, along w/further explanations. I made one apology, and you've made it clear you can't/won't accept it. As I said, I won't grovel to YOUR deliberate distortions or misinterpretations any more. I suspect you are severely neurotic & will continue to adversely react to any comment. Nuff said - to you, that is.
20 - steve
maurice, they should oust her from blogcritics! shes a leftist and a racist? thats a bad mix!
21 - Maurice
Natalie,
the tone of your post suggests you are ready to throw out presumption of innocence.
Your reply to me is tame compared to the rhetoric in the original post.
'He must be accountable for what he has wrought'
Wow
22 - steve
Mo, just let it go. there will always be less intelligent, less tolerable people in the world. its just another feminazi. Ive read some of her posts...I agree with you
23 - Natalie Davis
There is no doubt that the blood of thousands is on his hand. Who instigated the invasion and occupation? Bush. That is the idea to which that statement refers. Plamegate and the grand jury investigation are offshoots from that. We don't know who is guilty of the leak. We don't know if the act was necessarily criminal. But we do know who started the so-called war. And for that, Bush must be held accountable. If Fitzgerald deems there is a case, then those involved with Plamegate -- if proven guilty -- will get theirs.
24 - Natalie Davis
Oh, Mr. Maurice: If BC purged itself of "racists" and "hatemongers," a lot of people would be gone. You aren't going to like everyone you encounter here. To participate, you have to figure out how to deal with it. If someone really bothers you, the simplest thing to do is to ignore them.
25 - Maurice
Thanks, Steve and Natalie.
I've wished for an 'ignore poster button' because I have been sucked into a discussion too many times when it would have been better for me to not respond.
One last thought. The majority of posters and commenters here make for an enjoyable experience. Don't forget dietdoc.