Message: Stay the Course-There was nothing new in Bush's weird, rambling speech

[babylonsister]

http://www.slate.com/id/2170145/fr/flyout

Message: Stay the Course
There was nothing new in Bush's weird, rambling speech.
By Fred Kaplan
Posted Tuesday, July 10, 2007, at 6:24 PM ET

Some officers and midlevel officials have been telling me and other reporters that President George W. Bush is preparing to give in on Iraq—to recognize that victory is no longer feasible, that the "surge" isn't working, and that it's time to cut back U.S. troop levels and shift strategy once more.

After watching Bush's speech in Cleveland this afternoon, I can only conclude that this prediction—like all the similar predictions of an impending drawdown these past three years—is wishful thinking.

The president seemed, as much as ever, committed to the war, certain of liberty's inevitable triumph, and deluded about the nature and direction of the conflict.

It was, even by his standards, an unusually rambling speech, alternately folksy and haranguing, most of it about the virtues of tax cuts and private health care. A half-hour passed—and the cable news channels cut away to an incident at the Oakland airport a couple of times—before he came to the main point, the reason they were carrying the speech live: to articulate his latest views on Iraq.

And the startling thing about these views is that they haven't changed a bit.

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[rudy23]

1. He's gonna stall till '09 at all costs nt

[truth2power]

7. When foreign corporations get control of the oil...

that's when we'll leave. Whenever that happens.

[LSparkle]

2. How did his audience respond?

Lately he only speaks to troops (who CAN'T express their real feelings). Did the audience buy it? Applause, nodding heads ... or stoned cold silence? Hopefully C-Span will re-air.

[leftchick]

4. someone on TV yesterday

I don't remember who, said his audience was "hand picked" and therefore receptive to his message. WTF His audiences have always been hand picked.

[babylonsister]

5. I didn't see it so can't help you there. I guess even the media whores

cut away until he got to his boring, same ole point.

[madrchsod]

3. i noticed another story today

that was cut away until they person of interest had something to say....

does anyone actually think he would say anything new?

[applegrove]

6. He used a voice of solace during the speech. He sounded like a kindergarden

teacher.

[leftofthedial]

8. he and the congressional "democrats"

are running out the clock