The Democrats are indicating that they already know what Petraeus has to say and that it's all bullshit. The Republicans are indicating that they know that the Democrats know that it's bullshit and that (9/11! 9/11! 9/11!) calling it bullshit is tantamount (9/11!) to (9/11!) high treason. Um, and also: Petraeus = superstar, and anyone who questions him disrespects "the best of our military tradition". Also, remember the Alam... I mean, 9/11.

In other words, same old same old. Everyone knows what everyone is going to say or do. Everyone knows that the Republicans are choosing to ride out this war on Bush's side, come what may. Everyone knows that Republicans are not kamikazes, they merely are secure in their position because the Democrats (their smoldering bloviation nonwithstanding) will meekly go along with anything Bush does. All these are foregone conclusions. It's like knowing the ending to the movie before you've even watched it.

I don't read the polls much, but I wonder if the pollsters ever ask "do you think any of this is a charade?" I am willing to bet a sizable chunk of my inheritance that 70% of the populace, at this point, would say "yes". The other 30% will wave the American flag and make sacrifices in front of their Shrine to Bush and Petraeus. In their survivalist bunker.

We need a government in our government, folks.

Ros-Lethinen should illuminate to all what it is he means by an "advance", before he accuses someone of retreat. It seems to me that there would have had to been some sort of perceptable "advance" before one can define and blame a "retreat". Right now, depending on which facts you embrace, we've been retreating since "Mission Achomplished" was brazeningly unfurled over the head of our fearless leader...

Jiminy God, these people all suck. How do they have the energy to maintain these charades of reports and hearings? I know I'm exhausted just reading them about them.

Nothing changes. Except, of course, the lives of U.S. soldiers, their families and the Iraqis. But nothing changes for the 99+% of us here in the U.S.

"We need more time!" and "If things don't improve in three months time, we'll have to reassess!"

Rinse and repeat.

I've advocated a more moderate position but maybe it's time to get extreme. Or past time. Sigh.

is a she. And according to wiki, a supporter of the Church of Scientology.

You should have listened to what he actually said. It was quite crisp.

Move-On takes out a full page ad to use Petraeus' own words to point out his previous thinking and activity, and that means the Democrats are "over-reaching", even though they also provide a full page of substantiation on their website.

Karl's buddies unleash a barrage of unsubstantiated character assassination on a presidential candidate and that's just fine.

Aaaack!

As Duncan Hunter said.

A lot like Secretary of State Colin Powell in front of the UN.

These liars will say anything Bush tells them to.

Ah yes, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen: “Whether or not there is a direct link to the World Trade Center does not mean that Iraq is not meritorious of shedding blood. The common link is that they hate America.” (Source: The Hill, June 17, 2004, http://www.thehill.com/news/061704/finding.aspx.)