Doubling down

Doubling down. This is a gambling term which means you are willing to bet money to try to win back all the money you have already lost, sort of like double or nothing I guess. In any case the latest rumor having to do with Bush's intentions on Iraq have to do with doubling down. That is, they are going to put in another 20,000 or more troops to try to destroy one or more of the existing militias. Apparently the Pentagon is leaning in this direction. Even those who favor this maneuver admit that it is just a gamble. You got that? Just a gamble! You know, you just put in your chips and hope for the best. Except in this case we aren't talking about poker chips. THESE ROTTEN BASTARDS ARE GOING TO GAMBLE WITH THE LIVES OF OUR TROOPS, OUR CHILDREN! And they are going to do it because Bush is determined to achieve "victory" in his illegal, immoral, and unnecessary "war." Bush simply cannot admit that his "war" was a dreadful mistake or that his cause is hopeless. No amount of additional troops will make a silk purse out of this sow's ear. Even if he could destroy the militias (a completely futile task) the Iraqis would recruit new resistance fighters faster than we could kill them. And they are going to be much more highly motivated to kill us that we will be to kill them. After all, it is their country they are defending from invaders trying to steal their resources. This idea of sending in more troops to "double down" is sheer madness and will do nothing to solve the problem (of trying to save Bush's ass).

Speaking of Bush, this morning I inadvertently stumbled on to a talk (speech?) he was giving somewhere or other. Ordinarily when I have such an unpleasant accident I immediately turn off the tv. For some strange reason this morning I "girded my loins" and decided to try to actually listen to him. I quickly failed. It was so embarrassing I had to give up. He is obviously in way over his head and is simply floundering around trying to pretend he actually is thinking and doing something. I continue to believe that he is basically marginally retarded and when listening to him it seems to me perfectly obvious. It's like he is simply repeating what he has been programmed to say and is otherwise not involved in it. The look on his face and his body language tells it all - he's just not with it. For a brief moment I actually felt sorry for him, having to go out and perform for an audience that is no longer interested or invested in what he has to say. Why do we continue to put up with this? I find myself wishing someone would step on him and put him out of his misery (and ours).

For the past six years the Republicans have had almost unlimited power. They could have done great things for our country. They could have controlled Bush/Cheney and their obvious excesses. They did nothing. And they are doing nothing now. They are apparently proud of their war criminals and proud of attempting to do away with our constitution. Hopefully Big Juju will eventually give them what they deserve (if Democrats fail to do so).