Gingrich’s Advice To Bush On Iraq: ‘Simply Be Quiet, Say Nothing’

[Hissyspit]

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/07/23/gingrich-dont-talk-iraq

Gingrich’s Advice To Bush On Iraq: ‘Simply Be Quiet, Say Nothing’

This morning, Steve Thomma of McClatchy wrote that “When pressing a tough sale, Bush is a lousy salesman.” “He’s never really sold the country or Congress something it didn’t already want. And when he’s tried to sell something the people or the politicians didn’t want, he’s fallen flat,” wrote Thomma.

Thomma’s thesis gained a high profile supporter earlier today: Newt Gingrich. Speaking at an American Spectator breakfast, the former Speaker of the House offered some words of advice for how President Bush can gain support for the Iraq war — “Simply be quiet, say nothing:”

Newt Gingrich is offering President Bush some interesting advice about winning support for the Iraq war: The president, he says, should stop talking about it. “Simply be quiet, say nothing” is what the former Republican leader is urging. Mr. Bush instead should leave the war talk to General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker, who have much more credibility with both Democrats and Republicans... Petraeus and Crocker will get a better deal on Iraq than Bush, and it will be much harder for the Democrats to oppose Petraeus and Crocker,” Mr. Gingrich said.

- snip -

While it may be refreshing to see Bush “simply be quiet,” not talking about Iraq is hardly a solution. The U.S. needs to set a course towards a responsible redeployment out of the middle of a bloody civil war.

MORE on Newt "Shut Your Pie Hole Already, Mr. President" Gingrich AT LINK

[rocktivity]

1. Now, THERE'S a coincidence--

That's the exact same advice I have for Gingrich!


rocknation

[shain from kane]

2. "Don't worry, be happy." n/t

[JDPriestly]

3. Someone needs to tell the American people that we have a plan

to disengage and withdraw troops that is orderly just in case we need to do that. It would also help the Iraqi government to understand that we are not going to just stay there as the target for all the anger in Iraq. They have to get together, compromise and deal with each other. Americans should be told more clearly just what this government's stance is on the "oil" sharing and the role of the big oil companies in the proposed deals as well as the Iraqi people's view on the U.S. proposal re "oil." The average American has not thought through what the American proposal will mean. Is the U.S. government prepared to guarantee that any "oil sharing" agreement is enforced? How? Americans should have a voice in deciding whether, how, etc.

[SpiralHawk]

4. "And when you want a divorce, wait till your wife's in the hospital." - Newt

"That's the way we republicons do it. Listen to me. I'm just full of fabulous moral advice about our holier-than-thou republicon family values (snigger, smirk, sneer).

"What you do is, line up some hot younger babe who doesn't know any better, then wait till your little worn-out wifey is flat on her back, like I did, then get her to sign the divorce papers while she is sick and weak so you can run off with your young secretary while blasting the Democrats for their immorality. Snigger. The press is on the republicon-corporate side, so they won't pay much attention, even if you are wearing your diapers."

- Newtie Gingrich, Paragon of republicon family values & General Know It All

[NanceGreggs]

5. Boy, we sure have come a long way from ...

The WAR in Iraq will be a huge success.

Bush is a WARtime president.

The WAR will be hailed as a great victory for democracy.

We are a country at WAR.

A WAR requires sacrifice.

Only wussies and traitors don't recognize the need for this WAR.

Only nay-sayers are predicting a poor outcome of this WAR.

Blah, blah, blah.

Now it's all turned into a Fawlty Towers episode: "Shhh! Whatever you do, DON'T MENTION THE WAR!"

[TwilightGardener]

6. That's already the plan, you dingleberry. That's why Petraeus's image

has been built up to Napoleonic greatness to the public--that's why Bush keeps saying, "Listen to the Generals!" Mustn't question the Generals.