Bush takes blame for GOP election losses

[superconnected]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush on Wednesday took responsibility for his party's losses on Election Night and said he is willing to work with congressional Democrats on the major issues during the last two years of his presidency.

"Bush said the decision to replace Rumsfeld was made before the elections. "

"The reason why is I didn't want to inject a major decision about this war in the final days of a campaign," Bush said.

"I'm obviously disappointed with the outcome of the election and, as the head of the Republican Party, I share a large part of the responsibility," Bush said during a East Room news conference at the White House."

"There were different factors that determined the outcome of different races, but no question, Iraq was on people's minds," Bush said. "And, as you have just learned, I am making a change at the secretary of defense to bring a fresh perspective as to how to achieve something I think most Americans want, which is a victory. "


On Tuesday, Democrats picked up at least 28 seats in the House of Representatives, giving them control of the chamber for the first time since the Republican sweep in the 1994 midterm elections. (Full story)


http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/08/election.bush/index.html

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Interesting Bush finally taking responsibility, but this is what really stuck out:

"At the news conference, Bush also announced that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is resigning and will be replaced by former CIA Director Bob Gates. Bush said the decision to replace Rumsfeld was made before the elections."

"The reason why is I didn't want to inject a major decision about this war in the final days of a campaign," Bush said.

"There were different factors that determined the outcome of different races, but no question, Iraq was on people's minds," Bush said. "And, as you have just learned, I am making a change at the secretary of defense to bring a fresh perspective as to how to achieve something I think most Americans want, which is a victory. "

One week after saying he was keeping Rummy till the end, he admits he did oust him. So much for stay the course. And the Furher always makes someone pay. Not that I'm not glad it's rummy.

[dflprincess]

1. I just love how all the Republicans are talking about

cooperation and bipartisanship today. They're doing it in Minnesota as well where the DFL took control of the state house back and increased its hold on the state Senate.

[Octafish]

3. They 'took' office with one vote in 2000...

...the 5-4 SCOTUS take on the Selection, and made like they had a "man-date" running the country so far to the right it made America long for Nixon.

It's a little late in the day for bi-partisanship. Today it was Spooky. Tomorrow it'll be Sneer. Then soon it will be Smirk.

They can share bi-partisanship stories in Leavenworth.

[Tight_rope]

2. Bush take responsibity for some bad he did...I don't believe!

[confludemocrat]

4. stating the obvious and expecting credit for it, he never changes&never will

dumbass

[msongs]

5. we had a VICTORY 2 years ago dimwad, now its time to go home

1) ya know, mission accomplished, sadaam in jail and his sons dear, the country occupied.

ooops not time ta go yet.

2) elections held and constitution passed.

ooops not time ta go yet.

any decent conqueror would have declared victory and left the scene.


Msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm

[buddysmellgood]

6. Just like he took responsibility for outing Plame. He always says that. It means

nothing.

[rodeodance]

7. bush lied to the reporters. simple as that.

[MGKrebs]

8. Decision made before the election IF they lost.

No way he's gone if they had kept majorities.

[The Brethren]

9. what, no "move-on, get over it,

I earned it" b.s.?

"willing to work with congressional Democrats on the major issues" Ain't it sweet, but his words are cheap. Let's see him turn them into action. Good-bye rummy...it was sooo nice knowing ya. :sarcasm:

[Straight Shooter]

10. He is lying. If he had kicked out Rumsfeld, the GOP would have gotten more votes.

Rumsfeld was one of the reasons people voted against the GOP. Those four military newspapers yelling that Rumsfeld must go, but bush ignored them. Holding on to Rumsfeld cost the GOP a lot of votes, you betcha.

bush is a catastrophic failure to this country and an albatross around his party's neck. They should call for his impeachment and try to restore a little of their so-called dignity.

[NOLADEM]

11. Taking blame sure is easy when you experience no consequence from your 'responsibility'

[PtotheJ]

12. exactly

i want to see him take blame for 9/11, Katrina, and the Iraq failure. You'd think that him being a "texas cowboy" would give him the balls to do it.

[cliss]

13. DU:ers, don't be fooled.

A telltale statement:

"..most Americans want, which is a victory".

= Meaning, THEY HAVE NO PLANS FOR LEAVING IRAQ.

Victory = Stay

Stay = Unraveling

Unraveling = Viet Nam 2

[codjh9]

14. I maintain: It's NOT A WAR, and NO ONE CAN WIN IT

Hasn't been a war since the 'Mission Accomplished' bullshit, and the reason no one can win it is that this is not a 'war' between armies on a battlefield or series of battlefields. Terrorists are in many countries, in many parts of the world, and you don't beat 'em with tanks, generals, etc., not to mention our poor infantrymen. It takes police, international cooperation (something Bush has worked so hard on, right???), detective work, infiltration of ranks, blah blah blah... hey YOU guys know what I'm talking about. The only way to 'win' would be to nuke every country that *might* have terrorists... i.e. kill everyone there. There are actually people in this country who think we SHOULD do just that, but WE"RE IN POWER NOW, DAMMIT. :^)

[MGKrebs]

16. I agree completely.

I think their idea of "winning" is just to oppose whatever their adversaries want. If the insurgents want us out of Iraq, then "victory" for us would be to stay.

[goodboy]

15. he isn't taking blame for anything..(nt)