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Morning Thoughts
Nov. 10th, 2006 08:29 amThe GOP bodycount seems to be continuing, and it looks like we'll be seeing the last of John Bolton and Ken Mehlman by the end of the year -- the first a casualty of Lincoln Chaffee's classy parting shot as a U.S. Senator, the second from evidently frequenting the same bath houses as Bill Maher. I like that Chaffee, who I've always liked, is going down with some dignity and political integrity, whereas Bolton and some of the GOP's worst elements are being shuffled indignantly out the back door like the sleazy ex-boyfriends they are.
However, for all the pomp and circumstance, I still find it interesting that I'm watching what the Republicans do a lot closer than I do the Democrats, because that's essentially where the power dynamic is active. The Democrats have effectively equalized themselves, and given themselves the ability to start saying "no." And that's a good thing, but we've been effectively a one-party country for years now, and it's going to take some time to adjust. The Bush crowd has done a lot of damage, and even with the Jim Baker crowd stepping in to fix things -- and let's face it, that's what's happening here -- it's not going to get better over night.
As I've pointed out before, Bush and his cronies have no real interest beyond the end of Bush's term. That's a big part of why they were thumped so badly here. Baker -- love him or hate him -- is one of the most effective political operatives alive today, and if he's masterminding the White House Clean-out, then you can be guaranteed that he's thinking about 2008. That means we're going to see substantial shifts in White House policy to reflect the new American realpolitik, but don't expect them to become a bunch of doves anytime soon. A good chunk of America would be content with an Iraq policy that's actually effective, even if it doesn't involve us leaving.
Baker and Defense Secretary-elect Bob Gates have, in the past, advocated diplomacy with Iran and Syria, and the phrase "phased withdrawals" has been bandied about regarding Iraq. Whatever went into the forthcoming Baker Commission report, you can be pretty much assured that Baker will get everything he wants.
Is that a good thing? Time will tell. Both Baker and Gates have some bad things in their pasts, but I still have a lot more faith in them then I do Cheney and Rumsfeld.
However, for all the pomp and circumstance, I still find it interesting that I'm watching what the Republicans do a lot closer than I do the Democrats, because that's essentially where the power dynamic is active. The Democrats have effectively equalized themselves, and given themselves the ability to start saying "no." And that's a good thing, but we've been effectively a one-party country for years now, and it's going to take some time to adjust. The Bush crowd has done a lot of damage, and even with the Jim Baker crowd stepping in to fix things -- and let's face it, that's what's happening here -- it's not going to get better over night.
As I've pointed out before, Bush and his cronies have no real interest beyond the end of Bush's term. That's a big part of why they were thumped so badly here. Baker -- love him or hate him -- is one of the most effective political operatives alive today, and if he's masterminding the White House Clean-out, then you can be guaranteed that he's thinking about 2008. That means we're going to see substantial shifts in White House policy to reflect the new American realpolitik, but don't expect them to become a bunch of doves anytime soon. A good chunk of America would be content with an Iraq policy that's actually effective, even if it doesn't involve us leaving.
Baker and Defense Secretary-elect Bob Gates have, in the past, advocated diplomacy with Iran and Syria, and the phrase "phased withdrawals" has been bandied about regarding Iraq. Whatever went into the forthcoming Baker Commission report, you can be pretty much assured that Baker will get everything he wants.
Is that a good thing? Time will tell. Both Baker and Gates have some bad things in their pasts, but I still have a lot more faith in them then I do Cheney and Rumsfeld.
