Reality Bites

The President is urged to face reality by those of his own party.

The President said: "I'm pleased with the progress."

Cheney: the insurgency "is in the last throes."

Let's look up throes. Nope, he's wrong.

Now for the advice, from some Republicans who are looking at the electoral calendar:

Several Republicans questioned that evaluation. "I cannot say with any confidence that that is accurate," said Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio), a member of the House International Relations Committee. "I think it's impossible to know how close we are to the insurgency being overcome."

[John] McCain said Bush needs to carefully balance his reassuring statements to a troubled nation with frank talk about the arduous and unpredictable future. "It's a long, hard struggle and very gradually maybe we are making progress," McCain said. "There are tough times ahead." (my emphases - Z)

Will the President and his administration listen? No, his accountability moment has passed. Will other Repbublicans, who will be in DC long past the regime changes of 2006 and 2008, be forced to admit reality and push for changes in policy on this national security mess? I hope so. Will Republicans be known for the next few generations as the party that squandered our military strength, mistreated our vets, and blew giant holes in the economy? They should be.

As Drudge says, developing................