HuffPo/AP: White House to Warner, Lugar: Thanks, But No Thanks

[TwilightGardener]

Guess Chimpy won't even allow a toothless "suggestion" measure from the GOP's top Senate brass:

--snip--
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20070715/us-iraq/

WASHINGTON — The White House is holding firm on its Iraq strategy in the face of yet another effort to curb the mission, proposed this time by moderate Republicans the Bush administration can ill afford to lose.

President Bush's national security adviser, Stephen Hadley, said Sunday the administration's "very orderly process" for reviewing its Iraq plans should be allowed to play out despite a hurry-up initiative from two respected GOP senators.

Hadley's reply was "No" when asked whether Bush could live with the proposal by Sens. John Warner of Virginia and Richard Lugar of Indiana. They want to give the president until mid-October to submit a plan to restrict the use of U.S. troops in Iraq to fighting terrorists and securing borders and U.S. interests.

Bush is sticking to his plan to take stock of progress in Iraq in September and decide on a course of action from there, without conditions, his aide said.


--snip--

I would've thought Chimpy might welcome this fairly non-threatening (and non-binding) measure from his own loyal enablers--it could take a little of the political heat off of him in regard to Iraq for a few more months, while creating at least an APPEARANCE of seeking an exit strategy. I'm very surprised it was shot down so soon.

[Me.]

1. Nobody Gets A Vote Of Confidence

Lugar doesn't want to vote with the dems and * doesn't want to vote with him

[BlooInBloo]

2. Any plan predicated on Bush *willingly* leaving Iraq is just plain stupid.

[spanone]

3. I wish the Democrats And the Republicans would come together long enough to hang these bastards.

he hates the republican congress as much as the democrats. you're either with the prick or your not.

[rodeodance]

4. i heard Warner today-he deferred to Bush as the CoC several times

."The president will have to make some changes and I'm confident the president will do so," Warner said.

[rodeodance]

5. "Bush start thinking now "--what a HOOT

[State the Obvious]

6. I think it is all part of Bush's ploy ....

1. Bush wants to appear strong and resolute, so he will reject this toothless initiative outright.

2. Later, in order to take attention away from the other, MORE SUBSTANTIVE initiatives, Bush will feign interest in the Lugar-Warner measure. (AKA... stalling...)

3. This "Republican theatre" will continue until September.....when

4. General Petraeus says, "The surge is working".....we just need more time.

5. When Bush's idea is rejected, he will then have the golden opportunity to say: The war COULD HAVE BEEN successful IF the Democrat's had not insisted on their withdrawal plans.


(Bush NEVER, NEVER, NEVER takes responsibility for his mistakes. He ALWAYS finds a "fall-guy".)

[TwilightGardener]

7. So you think this was all a set-up? Hmm-

I might agree with that. Obviously, Warner/Lugar are facing some heat at home about the war--they know nothing will knock Chimpster off-course, but they float a proposal that will allow the Repubs to vote FOR an "exit-strategy/change-of-course" bill (meaningless as it is), and those Yea votes will be insurance against any challenges from Dem Senate opponents in 2008. In other words, Rove/Cheney let Warner, Lugar and the "endangered" purple and blue-state GOPers to shake their fists at the WH without reprisal or any actual risk to the "stay-the-course" plan. I'll have to see how many Repubs vote for it when it comes up, WHO votes for it, and how vociferously they defend the measure to know for sure. If they actually throw a tantrum, then they may have been offering Chimp a genuine gift here, which he is obviously turning down.

[State the Obvious]

8. Yup. I think the "endangered" GOPers will vote for this because....

as you say, the bill is meaningless. The bill APPEARS to be against the war....but it is non-specific. The endangered Republicans would definitely take the CYA approach and vote for this bill.....RATHER THAN vote for ANY bill proposed by a Democrat.

IMO, IF a Democrat's bill appears to be gaining momentum,..... Bush will stall and say he is "considering" the Warner/Lugar bill.

[Disturbed]

9. Warner, Lugar and the others are merely pandering.

They want to give the perception that they are not pleased with the direction of the Iraq Occupation. It is not a serious challenge to Busholini.