White House in 'Panic Mode' Over GOP Revolt on Iraq

[RamboLiberal]

Source: ABC News

ABC News has been told the White House is "in panic mode" over the recent defections of Republican senators on the President's stay-the-course policy in Iraq.

Senior Bush administration officials are deep in discussion about how to find a compromise that will "appease Democrats and keep wobbly Republicans on board," a senior White House official tells ABC News.

The official said the White House "is in panic mode," despite Monday's on-the-record briefing by White House Press Secretary Tony Snow, who played down any concern over the recent spate of GOP senators who have spoken out publicly in support of changing course in Iraq.

ABC News' Martha Raddatz will have more on this story on tonight's World News with Charles Gibson.



Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=3359764&page=1

[LSparkle]

1. HA! (a la Tweety)

They OUGHTA be! How *serene* is His Highness today?????

[ixion]

2. Be afraid, Chimpy. Be very afraid.

We, the people, are pissed. :grr:

Impeachment, and if there's any justice, a trip to the Hague will be in your future.

[aquart]

26. An honorable man would do the honorable thing

but George won't. Dick won't. Gonzo won't.

[ixion]

35. yep, you said it...

honor has nothing to do with it. I've heard that the "upper crust" consider honor to be quaint, right along with chivalry.

[zabet]

3. Guess this is why Chimpy looks sloshed every time he is seen recently.

[TexasLawyer]

9. wow-- very powerful cartoon

It took me a second to realize those were caskets marking the hours.

[wordpix]

75. he giddily hops on & off AF1 while waving as if to a cheering audience---probably just Barney & Pick

les. :rofl:

He does look completely high---maybe his doc is ordering "happy pills" or he is self-medicating for sure.

[MissWaverly]

4. this way to the egress

Remember the old PT Barnum story where he couldn't get people to leave his circus, so he put up a sign "This Way to the Egress"
or is there a Baghdad anywhere in the US, maybe we could have all the troops redeployed to Baghdad, Iowa.

[Hardrada]

15. Can't help you there but we do have a Persia, Iowa!

Check the weapons at the Illinois border however.

[MissWaverly]

19. well, we could send them to Palestine, Texas

:-)

[SharonAnn]

57. And there's a Tripoli, Iowa and a Madrid, Iowa

[Venus Dog]

31. There's a Bagdad, Arizona

seriously

[MissWaverly]

41. All Rightey, then, Remember who we are up against

The man who asked Charlotte Church, the Welsh singer, what part of the United States was Wales located in. Bagdad, Arizona
and Palestine, Texas sound like good bets to me. Of course Bagdad is not spelled the same as Baghdad, but again, would
he notice?

[DinahMoeHum]

46. There's one in Florida as well, on the Panhandle.

n/t

[martymar64]

47. Plus, there is Bagdad, California

Setting of the movie "Bagdad Cafe"

[tridim]

5. It's odd that ABC had to be told that the WH is in panic mode

And it's odd that the WH told ABC.

If the WH is really in panic mode they should be under supervised lockdown by the Capital Police and Congress because when someone admits they are panicked they tend to make dangerous choices.

[Maeve]

10. I see your point--I just expect them to make stupid choices

And I live in hope that finally, FINALLY they will reap the whirlwind.

[Beartracks]

43. MSM always has to be told what the news is... n/t

[TankLV]

51. An animal is most dangerous when cornered...

[Maeve]

6. Only one reaction for this:

:popcorn:

[tridim]

7. My reaction is more..

:scared:

Think cornered rat.

[Double T]

8. The 18 month WH stall and spin agenda to carry bushco out of the WH..........

'unscathed' is falling apart rapidly. rethugs are NOW more concerned about their own asses and reelection than bushco's miserable, failed, incompetent, corrupt, criminal legacy.

[youngdem]

11. Don't buy it....It's all a ruse

The Repukes see that the political reality is that they are gonna get shelled on Iraq in 08 if they don't' fake caring about the troops or the country.

So, they are gonna act like this, then the Repukes are gonna put up competing 'anti-war' legislation when the Dems put up a better bill, then kill both bills and blame the Dems.

This way, they steal the issue from the Dems by making it look like the Democratic majority couldn't pass a withdrawal bill, when the reality will be that the Repukes put up a fake withdrawal bill with no teeth and no assurance the withdrawal will be completed or the permanent bases abandoned.

Notice all of the Repuke conversions are all up for reelection in 08. Weird how conscience strikes only Republicans up for reelection, eh?

I will eat my shoes if I am wrong.

[MissWaverly]

42. would you like a side dish with that?

No, this is not about spin, they are seriously talking about planning for an orderly withdrawal from the major cities in Iraq,
we have been losing the war for years, Bush has manage to stall it off, but it's not going to last forever. The insurgency
is intensifying and they HATE us.

[TankLV]

52. All scum are ardent converts to the "good life" on their death bed...

[diamidue]

76. Yep. I agree.

These "defecting" GOP are probably hearing from the voters at home, so they engage in a little political posturing.

It's a ruse, alright.

[LiberalFighter]

12. If they are truely in panic mode then have guns and ammo readily available for them.

But they can only use the guns on themselves.


Has the Secret Service ever been put on suicide watch?

[Mz Pip]

13. I don't believe this

All Bush really cares about is to maintain the status quo until he leaves office. A couple of defections probably won't change things much. These guys are really good at talking the talk to give the appearance of distancing themselves from Bush but will fall in line if there ever is a vote to deny their fearless leader anything.

It's all posturing. McCain did it for 6 years.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[dickbearton]

38. Quite right, just Corrupt Republicans.

[calimary]

40. Welcome to DU!

The "c.r.'s"

Glad you're here! Now get to work. Congress is just a call away - and a TOLL FREE ONE. Check the handy TOLL FREE Capitol Hill switchboard numbers always conveniently located in my sig line below.

[TankLV]

53. and Collins, and Snow, and...

t\They only "risk" going against the WAR CRIMINAL when they are almost guaranteed to LOSE!

When is is close, they are all "good Germans" and vote with Party over Country...every fucking time...

Don't ever forget that...

[closeupready]

61. That's what I smell, too.

Not buying it. The MSM always does this to us - force feeds us administration talking points, repackaged to look objective. Uh-uh.

[harun]

73. After reading the whole article I don't either, plan is to stall

by any means necessary and to push this problem to the next admin.

[alcibiades_mystery]

14. Quelle dommage

...

[Exiled in America]

16. It's hilarious that its going to be Republican congress persons who end the war.

...which democrats will then laud as their own success due to their courage and fighting spirit. :)

[Zorra]

17. BS. The republican "defections" are political posturings and the

so-called republican defectors will vote however Bu*h wants them to vote.

[WileEcoyote]

18. Always stay out of the way when your opponent is falling on his own sword..

This is the reason Pelosi isn't pushing the Impeachment game. It's another chess game: You have a winning position so why bother risking a loss
by trying to end the game too quickly?

OK I know what you're thinking: People are dying in our two failed wars while we let the Bush administration commit suicide.

However you have to accept some hard truths: Much of Congress is influenced by money more than principles. These money managers influence what we see on TV and the media etc. At this point the more principled members of Congress (and that definitely includes Speaker Pelosi) have decided to let the end game play itself out.

And it's hard to watch.

When you think about it the real reason our troops are fighting is to prove how badly our Congress and executive branch needs an over haul.

They aren't dying in vain but just not for the reasons they went "Over there" for.

[snappyturtle]

20. Sorry but I can't agree with you on your position about Pelosi.

I can't go along with the winning position and letting soldiers just die because Congress is playing a game. The president LIED about going into the war and has obstructed our legal process. It's a matter of doing the right thing not waiting the "game" out.

[WileEcoyote]

27. It's not would I'd like to see happen. Nor the way I believe it should.

But it is the way Speaker Pelosi will play the game. And I accept the nature of "real politic".

About the only way she'll move on with Impeachment is when something like 90% of the country is throwing rotten eggs and tomatoes at the White House gates.

[liberaltrucker]

21. Agreed

And welcome to DU!

:hi:

[Barrett808]

36. Welcome to DU, Wile!

:hi:

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

22. Sounds like a new ride at Diz-knee (AyBeeCee) . . .

C'mon kids, let's take a ride on "The Panic Mode"!

Do y'all ever get the feeling that BushCo is making it up as they go along? This bullschnitt is starting to seem like an endless season of "Twin Peaks".

Well, at least they won't have to toss lots of incriminating documents into the fireplace as the masses are beating down their doors--the RNC has already made sure those documents are destroyed! Speaking of, where are the criminal indictments against RNC officials for their participation in the WH email coverup?

[Binka]

28. The Fire Ready Aim Administration

Indeed where are the criminal indictments???!!!

Welcome to DU I like your style. :hi:

[opihimoimoi]

55. FRA....LOL...Love it...:o)

[bluerum]

23. Great. They are stupid AND scared. Hold on to your hats cowboys and cowgirls. eom

[mvd]

24. Compromise?

I didn't know that was a word in Bush's vocabulary. They must be scared.

[aquart]

25. Do not allow George to have one good day or one happy second.

Make his term of office the same prison sentence it is for us.

[WileEcoyote]

29. He doesn't care what we think.

Bush has lived in a gated community his whole life. Detached, and unaware of the average human condition.

Views the failure around him as the fault of other people. Not himself.

So I'm not sure we can make him feel much more miserable than he feels now. I'm sure he's not happy with the situation. However the poor approval ratings are more of a simple nuisance to him.

Like if the screen door was left open and the flies landed on his casserole.

For you and me it means whether or not one of our relatives ends up dead, hurt, starving or sick.

Mr. Bush does not know that feeling well.

[Venus Dog]

30. As the Aspens Turn

and they are ALL connected by their roots.

[babsbunny]

32. I don't believe they care, let alone in panic mode!

They will do nothing!

[paparush]

33. So, basically, the 2006 election victories gave Congress the ability to 'debate' the war...

but not to stop it. That is really frigging sad.

REAL leaders would call out this jug-eared prick with the 26% approval ratings by not submitting a funding reauthorization.

[Odin2005]

34. "appease Democrats" LOL, the shoe is on the other foot for once!

:rofl:

[Doctor_J]

37. Chimp has been tossed overboard. Rove is lining up an anti-war ticket

for next year.

[TheCowsCameHome]

39. Finally, some good news. Is the Chimpster on suicide watch yet?

Bwahahahahahahahahahaha.

[wordpix]

74. no, his voice from God keeps telling him to stay the course

:crazy:

[lovuian]

44. Well elections are coming up

and some republicans are going to be out of some jobs

[thereismore]

45. This was probably leaked by Rove anyway to keep us happy. Incarcerate. nt

[Contrary1]

48. I'm skeptical...

Why would Bush and Cheney give a rat's behind? Do you think they care anything about what anyone else thinks? Not worried about violating the Constitution. Not worried about how many troops die in Iraq. Not worried about what the majority of Americans want. Impeachment? Nah, they ain't worried about that either, thanks to our newly elected Democrats.

Panic Mode? I ain't buying it.

[Cha]

49. I thought neoCONS didn't

appease?

[MiserableFailure]

50. Aw sorry wittle chimpy

Go fuck yourself you piece of garbage

[NastyRiffraff]

54. Bush ALWAYS strikes out when cornered

Just like a wounded, cornered animal. It's happened again and again. He's as dangerous as a rabid dog when faced with adversity of ANY kind.

He's even said outright that he intends to leave this mess to the next president, and he will. And he'll make it even worse if he can.

I'd say impeachment is the only answer of both Bush and Cheney, but if that happens, we'd better be prepared to throw them out legally through the Senate vote. Otherwise, all pretenses to democracy will go out the window. That's the ONLY reason I'm waffling on impeachment. It may be why Pelosi is, too...I dunno.

[opihimoimoi]

56. In Japan, the Honorable thing to do is SEMPUKU...you know, the Hari Kiri story

But then, First Wimp would Chimp Out...wait a min...? What was that???

[Canuckistanian]

58. NO COMPROMISE!

NO appeasements. NO "agreements".

NOBODY "stays on board"!

[entanglement]

59. That's six in all: Alexander, Gregg, Lugar, Warner, Voinovich and Domenici

Rats...ships

[whistle]

60. Is the White House in Red Alert? If not, they should be as more

...republicans cross over to leave Bush and Cheney holding the bag. I'm not sure I like having republicans on our side of the line, but if it will bring down the House of Bush/Cheney then I guess we can handle the stench, that sickening odor of corruption and decay.

[Amonester]

62. So refusing to comply with all these subpoenas will "appease"

the Dems!

Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrre! :sarcasm:

Or R they "planning" a "new Nine Elev" or worse? :grr:

[johnnyrocket]

63. Oh, Bush is gettin all 'cut and runny' on us, all Michael Moore like...

...uh huh,

Bush....forever synonymous with miserable failure.

[soothsayer]

64. I really doubt Nero gives a damn.

[cassiepriam]

65. Why? Does Bush care what anyone thinks? The repugs may grouse but

they will never do anything....

[CANDO]

66. We, the american people, need to be on guard for another attack.

Of course, completely orchestrated by these bastards who have backed themselves into a corner. They are armed and extremely dangerous.

[sabra]

67. White House Panic Mode on Iraq Is 'Bunk,' Snow Says

Source: ABC News


Press Secretary Tony Snow Disputes Claim That No Benchmarks Have Been Met

<snip>

Behind closed doors the White House is reportedly in panic mode. President Bush had hoped to stay the course in Iraq until mid-September, but events at home now threaten to force his hand.

ABC News has learned the Iraq progress report due out in the next week will state that none of the political benchmarks have been met by the Iraqi government.

...

White House press secretary Tony Snow denied on "Good Morning America" that the administration is in panic mode.

"That's bunk. That's flat wrong. I know it provides a sense of drama but it's also inaccurate," Snow said. "What we have is an administration that's trying its very best to try to cope with facts on the ground and move towards success."


Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3361754&page=1

[babylonsister]

68. Of course Snow says that; that's why he's up so early, to provide the

necessary spin.

[DrDan]

69. if Tony denies it . . . then you know it is true . . . .

[old guy]

70. As soon as he starts denying, you know its true.

[zabet]

71. Anything he says is a "snow job".

:puke:

[underpants]

72. Can't be Rove said just the other day that this won't even affect the '08 elections

and he is a GENIUS!