The Great And Powerful Oz Has Spoken!

Tonight's speech by President Bush trying to convince the nation that Iraq is a flying success was another effort to lie and confuse Americans. As Bush's approval ratings are plummeting, the president decided to travel to Ft. Bragg and deliver a cheerleader talk. He came across, even before he delivered it, as a whiney dork who has to convince, by hook or by crook, people to like him. As I read of the upcoming speech, I told my wife that no matter what, the president has failed. People in November (supposedly, at least what the pollsters found) didn't want to "change horses midstream." Now, it appears that they're second-guessing themselves (damn, I feel good about myself. Don't you, Chris?) but Colin Powell's Pottery Barn Doctrine has unfortunately rung true: "You break it, you bought it." If we have a president coming on television saying, in essence, "c'mon, guys, please listen and follow me!" then we already have a populace that will never change its mind. Bush's cocksure attitude for the last four years (and hopefully all of his ^*&)&$ "political capital" has been spent) has come to backfire on him. Last I remember, it was two years ago May that a particular banner "Mission Accomplished" waved behind a president who claimed a resounding victory in Iraq. Tonight, Bush was telling Americans that success was being made but the road ahead is long. Either you lied to us or you lied to yourself, Uncurious George. Either way, you've irreparably damaged the image and reputation of the United States. ABC News' debriefing discussion among its anchors even stated that the sole round of applause given to Bush after he stated that the U.S. would not pull out of Iraq until the [see May 1, 2003 quote], was prompted by White House staffers placed "strategically" in the front row for the speech. The only thing that I agree with Bush on is the fact that since we're in the damn country and we fucked it up this badly, we've got to at least assemble it in some half-baked fashion.
What killed me the most was the number of times (FIVE) that Bush attempted to connect the Iraq war to the "war on terror" or 9/11. I believe that with this speech, Bush has proven himself to be more delusional than Ronald Reagan during Iran-Contra; The CIA has categorically denied any connection between 9/11 and Iraq, all declassified intelligence points to the same conclusion, no WMD's were found in Iraq (proving Bush's original claims to war as downright falsifications), and with declassified British intelligence memos painting the Bush administration (Cheney, Condi, Rummy) as pure ideologues who were cooking the books to make the Iraq war look like a last-ditch effort instead of the first idea that George Bush had (H.W. that is; can't forget 1991), we have a president who is truly worthy of impeachment. Write your representative or Senator; write letters to the editor; tell your neighbors - President George W. Bush is a war criminal and has wrought more international harm than good with his failed idea to topple a government without proof, reason, or postwar planning. Bush's true reason was stated loudly and clearly in 2001, if I recall: "After all, he's the guy (Saddam Hussein) that tried to kill my dad." Lynch him. Please, folks that supported this straw man, listen to Tho Who and don't get fooled again. Once, shame on me. Twice, well, now you're the idiot.

On a happier note, I traversed a long distance to the closest real record store yesterday and found me a couple of gems. One's old and rare, another brand-spanking new. Both of them are from "minor" artists (we can debate this) but both cuts are fun and will receive quite a bit of play: First up, Huey Lewis and the News' "Live at 25" a new album celebrating the silver anniversary of this very cool Bay Area band. Check my blog from last October when I saw them in concert. Just a blast. All the classics, including my all-time fave of theirs, "Power of Love." Secondly, a greatest hits of sorts, a 1979 release "Havin' a Party with Southside Johnny" by the man and the Asbury Jukes. Great bar band Philly soul/r&b stuff. Most was written by Bruce Springsteen and Little Steven and it's great party music. Can't wait to blast 'em this Fourth of July. On a small Bruce-related note, I threw in his 2000 MSG dvd and my little ten-month hold son sat there riveted during "Tenth Avenue Freeze Out" and watched a very cool song. See, start 'em young and you got 'em for life. Isn't that Philip Morris' motto?