The President's speech

[Pam]

I am surprised that no one has started a thread on this yet. What did everyone think? Do you agree with the surge? I know this will surprise some people but I don't. I don't think this will work and I am ready for a pull-out. I imagine Sara (Edwina's secretary) is probably picking herself up from the ground about now.

[mugsy]

I think the man is a flaming idiot. We don't need to send in 20,000 more troops and put them in harm's way for his bloody ego. I understand that they are fully aware of the risks when they sign up and go to boot camp, but, that doesn't mean you have to send them just to send them and try and make yourself look better. He is truly acting like the lame duck president that he is.

[Marigold2]

I agree with Mugsy totally. As a mom with two sons who were in the military, one is in the reserves still, Bush is the biggest mistake ever made by the American people. Sending in more of our children to be killed, it's horrible. When there is a car accident and someones child dies everyone is upset and sends prayers and good thoughts. When one of our soldiers die people just say "oh that's too bad" and usually that is it. We as a people don't think about the family, really think. Dear God they have lost their child. For what? My heart breaks when I think of all the moms, dads, children, wives who have lost someone. It is time for Bush to go hunting with Cheney. Maybe if he got shot he would understand some of the pain inflicted on others.

[Vela]

I think they should drop Bush from a helicopter into the middle of a gun battle in Iraq.

[lizbud]

I don't think it will work.I think it's a case of too little too late.

[lvpets2002]

Thank you mugsy Very Well Said.. I do think this man blows out more HOT Air than my Oven..

I think the man is a flaming idiot. We don't need to send in 20,000 more troops and put them in harm's way for his bloody ego. I understand that they are fully aware of the risks when they sign up and go to boot camp, but, that doesn't mean you have to send them just to send them and try and make yourself look better. He is truly acting like the lame duck president that he is.

[elizabethann]

This is a never-ending war. My heart breaks for the men & women who are dying over there.

[Sevaede]

I agree with everything that everyone has already said.

[mike001]

Yep, so do I. Bush is a total disgrace to the US.

[Edwina's Secretary]

Every Sunday I turn to the section in the LA Times that has the obituraries of the soldiers who died during the week in Iraq. I read them. I tell my husband about them. I think about the parents, spouse, children, siblings and friends of those killed. And my heart aches for them.

But I cannot know how they feel. I have never lost a child or a spouse or a parent or a sibling. Neither has GW. He cannot know how they feel either.

I wish, as he continues to send the youth of this country off to a senseless war, he would stop saying that he knows how the families feel.

And Pam....I always knew you would come around...

[Pam]

This is truly George Bush's Viet Nam. I remember those days all too well, and my hubby was in the USAF while that was going on. Thankfully he never had to go there.

The war in Iraq involves so many soldiers now that hardly a hometown is not affected. At my church we have a weekly prayer list for our servicemen with a notation of where they are serving. Increasingly you see *Iraq.*

Sara, I still don't think he went into Iraq knowing that there were no WMD because he would know that it would all come to light eventually. I believe he was poorly advised. That said, it's time to wrap it up over there and let the Iraqis fight for their own country.

[ramanth]

I didn't watch his speech but heard on the radio how his plan was to send more troops and my heart just sank.

I don't understand his reasoning of how sending 20,000 more over there will bring them all home sooner.

Can't Congress or the House shoot this idea down?

[Karen]

I know enough to know that I don't know what should be done. But at this point, unless I heard something from military commanders on the ground in Iraq, I don't think I'd believe anyone politician's solution.

I know there is no easy answer.

I wish there were.

That said, I don't think throwing a "mere" 20,000 troops at the issue will solve a thing. We've had that many more soldiers over there before. It's been years. The situation on the ground is abysmal in much of the country, and where things are improving (surely there must be some places, right? We have thousands of our people boots on the ground, and have for years now ...) we never get to hear about it.

Mommy, why can't they get along? Can we put everyone in separate corners and give them all a "time out" until they agree to play nice? What do you mean there aren't enough corners?

[Edwina's Secretary]

Bush has only listened to advisors who told him what he wanted to hear. Anyone who disagreed with him, you may remember, was "aiding the terrorist, Unamerican, traitor, coward."

Presidents Lincoln and Roosevelt had members of the loyal opposition in their cabinets. Bush showed the door to anyone who did not agree (such as Powell...) He is PROUD he does not listen to the news or read newspapers. Protesters are restricted to "First Amendment" areas where he does not have to see or hear them. Audiences are vetted to ensure only those who hold his views are allowed.

Bush chose his advisors and he chose to listen to them. There were other opinions out there. But not ones he wanted to hear. So he didn't listen.

There is plenty to go around....but ultimately...he is the leader...he is responsible.

[sparks19]

Yes he is a moron. but he is not the only president to send people overseas to fight. Even when Bill was in office there were ALWAYS people overseas fighting and dying. No matter who is in office our men will continue to be sent to overseas places to fight and die. perhaps not on this scale but 1 or 1000 I don't think it matters.

I don't think the answer now is to pull out. We are in too deep. I fear that will only make things worse.