is sadly in keeping with the Administration's aversion to anything that might actually hold them accountable for anything. Bush would not allow sworn or recorded testimony in the past and got away with it. Why not continue on this tack?

It all makes me wonder about the Democracy Foundation Bush wants to establish after he's replenished the coffers. Will the documents of the foundation be written in invisible ink, or merely recorded on an Etch-A-Sketch?

This whole situation could easily be explained if they'd only let the War Czar into the room. What's his name again...Scapegoat, Putz, Lutz wait Lute. That's it. It's been so long since it's been mentioned I'd almost forgotten it. But I haven't. Just like I haven't forgotten all the other bullshit they've tried to pass off as leadership and policy. Let's stop wasting time, energy and funds trying to get Bush and his accomplices to admit their reasons for getting us into this mess. They're never going to and there will never be a smoking gun. Let's just get them out so they will stop this insanity they consider policy. Come on Congress grow a set.

is not a descriptor I could use when discussing my relationship to the "methodology" of the bush administration.

Being "comfortable" is a rare condition anymore. The country is teeming with the not "comfortable." The troops (which are, by the way, people, and "troops" nicely doesn't remind us of that) are not "comfortable." The Iraqis are not "comfortable." All of this seems permissible.

But let someone wanting to perpetuate these horrfying disomforts with a "methodolgy" which is grounded in lying become not "comfortable," well, let's be sure they are returned to their silk pillows, cashmere blindfolds and sycophantic minions to stroke them, fan them and service them.

It's all disgusting.

...that I could get away with making up reports from nothing, let alone not writing them at all, and still hold my job.

It's rough out here in the sector where we still have to deliver actual results based on facts and logic.

The books have been cooked. When you hear that the casualty counts do not include car bombings, shootings in the back of the head, etc., it is quite clear that the reporting by General Patraeus is mere fiction to stall for more time.

Now, they are asking us to wait til next spring. When that times comes, they will ask until the remainder of 2008. At that time, GWB's goal of passing on this poopie diaper onto the next administration will be fufilled.

The only issue is whether the Democrats or any Republicans against the upcoming war funding vote can grow a spine to challenge Bush. Bushco will spin any dissenting vote as a vote for defeat and surrender. Accordingly, the opposition to the war must be able to fabricate an articulate and compelling argument at least equal to the propaganda against it.

Any way one looks at the situation in the middle east, no short or long term projection looks very good. It is now just a matter of who will be assigned the blame. In reading Dead Certain, it is clear Bush always has a scapegoat in hand.

It would just be a waste of paper anyway. No one other than Bushit will determine the process and the outcome. Tough luck America. We gave that and numerous other options at the last election when "we" voted in someone who doesn't care whether this Republic will survive the beating it's taking from those who "counted the vote". Very scary man that George Bush...

The Iraquis have a wonderful custom. To display their disgust with something or someone, they take off one of their shoes and pound it into the offense. I suggest a shoe-pounding rally in the mall in Washington D.C. to both protest this shameful war and the lazy, capitulating, spineless conduct of our passionately elected Democratic Leadership. Clearly, they aren't up to the job.

Anyone who has seen the documentary "No End in Sight" realizes that there are a lot of unaswered questions--unasked questions--about this war--and it's time we began asking and getting answers. Want a million dollars Bush? Here's Question #1. Make the f'er dance for his money! What the hell are you afraid of?

Bremer's oped in yesterday's NYTimes about the decision to disband the Iraqui military was smooth but more full of holes than a piece of Lorraine cheese. If you read it, you'll notice that not once did he or the administration consult any Iraqui about disbanding that army during a disgusting period of looting (he didn't bring up their old friend Chalabi) nor did the U.S. establish martial law to prevent the destruction and looting of the country--populated by people who, in Bush's own words, are not our enemies. Nor did he disclose the recommendations of Jay Garner who had met with military people and had their sworn commitment to bring order to chaos. It is totally unacceptable for the leader of this country to say he forgot whether he made this decision or that, especially when it's the source of so much death!

These elected officials who are paid handsomely for their time need to get off their butts and determine the facts for themselves instead of letting the Bush Corporation feed them information that has never been credible to date. Isn't that their job? Or is Bush Corp. so credible now that you can just sit back and make decisions based on what his dog and pony show?

Here's my shoe, m.....!

a little more of Karl's math.

Petraeus is going to sit there and say, "Who are you gonna believe, me or your lying eyes?"

Without numbers, it is all shit. Of course, it's been pre-written shit from Nov 2006 on. No one, but no one, would ever have believed that Bush would ever allow in the truth.

Why doesn't the press ever mention that the Pentagon is required by law to report on progress in Iraq to Congress? The last report was this summer and pretty much any sane person reading the thing would conclude that the war has been a disaster that wasn't going to be "fixed" in a matter of weeks by the presence of 30,000 more American troops.

The strange thing to me is that the documents that essentially prove that the surge either hasn't or can't work are all already out there and very public.