An ad encoraging DIStrust of the military is long overdue. Hooray for MoveOn.org

You keep wishing... and hoping, for our defeat.

Come on Bithead, you're smarter than that. I rarely ever agree with you, but I at least know you're smarter than that.

Surely there is some reason with more substance that keeps you supporting the current war plan. If you have to fall back to that tired old straw man, perhaps it's time to concede the argument.

The fact is the American people are trusting of the military and the democrats have overplayed their hand.

There exists a large portion of the military besides Petreaus, and many of them disagree (publicly) with his finding and suggestions, perhaps it's those members of the military that the American people say they trust.

Now, why would it surprise you to learn that the American people trust the military in the matter more than the White House, given that the White House themselves, since the beginning of this thing has been loudly deferring to the military's wisdom?

The WH credibility problem has little to do with claiming deference to the military.

The fact is the American people are trusting of the military and the democrats have overplayed their hand.

Yet the American people actually believe what the Democrats and a growing contingent of ex-military are saying rather than what Petraeus is and has been saying. You name the stakes (I suggest one month of no blog commentary excepting your own blog) and I will bet you that in one week or one month public opinion on the war will more closely align with Democrats' assessment than with Petraeus'. I await your response or counter offer.

The fact is the American people are trusting of the military and the democrats have overplayed their hand.

Um, that would only be the case if the American people also believed that the Commander in Chief was listening to the military for his Iraq plans, which I don't believe they do. So it is entirely possible for the American people to trust the military, and the democrats, and be against the war and the White House.

The fact is the American people are trusting of the military and the democrats have overplayed their hand.

Perhaps you didn't notice the report on polling data I referred to?

The polling data (no links) you referred was I assume question 66 of the recent NYT/CBS Poll.

66. If you had to choose, who would you say you trust the most with successfully resolving the war in Iraq -- the Bush Administration, Congress, or U.S. military commanders in Iraq?

Bush Admin...................5
Congress....................21
Military commanders.....68
None(vol.)...................3
Other.........................-
DK/NA.........................3

Correct me if I am wrong in this assumption.

Perhaps you should read the rest of the results of that poll.

4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling foreign policy?

Approve 26 Disapprove 67 No Opinion/Answer 7

6. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling the situation with Iraq?

Approve 26 Disapprove 71 No Opinion/Answer 3

7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling the campaign against terrorism?

Approve 40 Disapprove 52 No Opinion/Answer 8

11. Do you think removing Saddam Hussein from power is worth the potential loss of American life and the other costs of attacking Iraq, or not?

Approve 35 Disapprove 59 No Opinion/Answer 6

20. Do you think the United States made a mistake getting involved in the current war against Iraq, or not?

Yes 62 No 34 No Opinion/Answer 3

52. How would you say things are going for the U.S. in its efforts to bring stability and order to Iraq? Would you say things are going very well, somewhat well, somewhat badly, or very badly?

Very well 4 Somewhat well 29 Somewhat badly 32 Very Badly 32 DK/NA 2

53. From what you know about the U.S. involvement in Iraq, how much longer would you be willing to have large numbers of U.S. troops remain in Iraq -- less than a year, one to two years, two to five years or longer than five years?

Less than one year..........54
1-2 years.......................22
2-5 years........................8
Longer than five years.......7
As long as it takes(vol.).....5
Should leave now(vol.)......1
DK/NA 3

55. Regardless of how you usually vote, do you think the Republican party or the Democratic party is more likely to make the right decisions about the war in Iraq?

Republican........32
Democratic.......42
Both(vol.)..........1
Neither(vol.)......9
DK/NA.............16

And it goes on and on.
Again the bottom line is what the American public walks away believing about what America should be doing in Iraq. Nothing much new is being said at the hearings thus far so I would be surprised to see the public's opinions change much because of the testimony of Petraeus and Crocker. Feel free to differ, but be prepared for disappointment.

And on what basis, pray, tel, do you make this statement? Be sure to use specifics.

It is merely my opinion based on my recollections of your previous comments. I am not invested enough in that comment to search through the archives for proof. I will keep my eyes open for my current opinion to be proven false.

(Sigh)
Reverse the roles. Say those are Republicans taking out that ad. Would YOU given believe the line you've just given us?

Maybe he would not, but you certainly would.

And on what basis, pray, tel, do you make this statement? Be sure to use specifics.

I would say the bottom line is what information the American people walk away believing. At this point it is not the line Petraeus has been giving and I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for that to change.

Perhaps you didn't notice the report on polling data I referred to?

(Sigh)
Reverse the roles. Say those are Republicans taking out that ad. Would YOU given believe the line you've just given us?

Maybe he would not, but you certainly would.

All this bottom lines here:
The far left has expanded an awful lot of time energy and money ... 12 million, by some reports, in an effort to gain say the generals. I'd say offhand, the attempt has failed.

I would say the bottom line is what information the American people walk away believing. At this point it is not the line Petraeus has been giving and I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for that to change.

It took just a few days, it seemed to galvanize the country in the wake of 9/11. We were united in an unheard of fashion against a common and clearly evil enemy.

Now, 6 years later, we are hopelessly divided: divided by ourselves and a ...

One of the teachers that my wife works with found out that her son was killed last night in Iraq. Our thoughts go out to her and her family. With my son graduating from Parris Island at the end of......

One of the teachers that my wife works with found out that her son was killed last night in Iraq. Our thoughts go out to her and her family. With my son graduating from Parris Island at the end of......