Glen Greenwald: The DC Establishment versus American public opinion

[babylonsister]

The DC Establishment versus American public opinion

(updated below)

The Washington Establishment has spent the last several months glorifying Gen. David Petraeus, imposing the consensus that The Surge is Succeeding, and most importantly of all, ensuring that President Bush will not be compelled to withdraw troops from Iraq for the remainder of his presidency. The P.R. campaign to persuade the country that the Surge is Succeeding has been as intense and potent as any P.R. campaign since the one that justified the invasion itself. While this campaign has worked wonders with our gullible media stars and Democratic Congressional leadership, it has failed completely with the American people.

Ever since the Surge was announced (and allowed) back in January, Conventional Beltway Media Wisdom continuously insisted that September was going to be the Dramatic Month of Reckoning, when droves of fair-minded and election-fearing Republicans finally abandoned the President and compelled an end to the war. But the opposite has occurred.

Democratic Congressional leaders -- due either to illusory fears of political repercussions and/or a desire that the war continue -- seem more supportive than ever of the ongoing occupation (or at least more unwilling than ever to stop it). They are going to do nothing to mandate meaningful troop withdrawal. Most Republicans are hiding behind the shiny badges of Gen. Petraeus and his typically sunny claims about Progress in Iraq, and they, too, are as unified as ever that we cannot end our occupation.

None of that is notable or surprising to anyone other than our nation's media stars. It has been depressingly predictable (and predicted) for months that Petreaus would descend on Washington in September, hail the Great Progress we are making, and the entire D.C. Establishment -- and more than enough members of both parties -- would meekly fall into line and support whatever scheme prevailed at the time for ensuring that we stayed in Iraq through the end of the Bush presidency. The notion of the "Moderate Congressional Republican" who will stand up to the President has long been an absurd Beltway myth, as was the expectation that Democrats in Congress would ever force the President to end the war.

But what is notable about all of this, if not surprising as well, is that the overwhelming majority of the American people now harbor such intense distrust towards our political and media elite that they are virtually immune to any of these tactics. Several polls over the past month have revealed that most Americans do not trust Gen. Petraeus to give an accurate report about Iraq. And a newly released, comprehensive Washington Post-ABC News poll today starkly illustrates just how wide the gap is between American public opinion and the behavior of our political establishment.

more...

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/?last_story=/opinion/greenwald/2007/09/09/dc_establishment/

[blogslut]

1. Here's a link to that WaPo poll

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/polls/postpoll_090907.html

Recommended :hi:

[superkia]

2. The poll about issues didnt even mention the constitution or rights?

You would think that would be important to the American people?

[Mojorabbit]

8. I am

surprised climate change did not register a blip either

[Tigermoose]

9. Yes, that is very disturbing.

.

[leftchick]

3. isn't this the truth

"an absurd Beltway myth, as was the expectation that Democrats in Congress would ever force the President to end the war."

[Buns_of_Fire]

4. The wrath of the American people builds slowly, but it builds to a terrible crescendo...

Very soon now, both the republics and those cowardly Democrats who enable this stupid, insane pResident and his policies will learn that "when we SAY no, we MEAN no!" The republics will be tossed out of office in unheard-of numbers, along with many Democrats who sold their souls for the sake of one more term.

Yeah, right. :eyes: Who am I kidding?

[L. Coyote]

5. Permanent political cynicism may be the only positve legacy of the Bush Residency

Now that we all know they are corrupt liars, let's get on with the impeachments.

[MotorCityMan]

6. This is like it was during the 2000 "election"

All the talking heads were screaming "Constitutional Crisis!!!" and spouting off about how the American people were demanding a quick resolution.

This was contrary to the polls that showed the majority wanted the election decided fairly and honestly (count ALL the votes), not quickly.

[BlooInBloo]

7. Greenwald neglects to mention the Empire's *response* to the failure of their...

... full court press:

If you can't convince the public, just stop asking them:

http://atrios.blogspot.com/2007_09_02_archive.html#7548963413264796223