*'s suggestion: critics of the war with children at risk are too “emotional” to see...clearly

[babylonsister]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/04/opinion/04weds1.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

More Than a Feeling

snip//

Mr. Dowd’s case, Mr. Bush said, “as I understand it, is obviously intensified because his son is deployable.”

Over the weekend, two of Mr. Bush’s chief spokesmen, Dan Bartlett and Dana Perino, claimed that Mr. Dowd’s change of heart about the war was rooted in “personal” issues and “emotions,” and talked of his “personal journey.” In recent years, Mr. Dowd suffered the death of a premature twin daughter, and was divorced. His son is scheduled to serve in Iraq soon.

Mr. Dowd said his experiences were a backdrop to his reconsideration of his support of the war and Mr. Bush. There is nothing wrong with that, but there is something deeply wrong with the White House’s dismissing his criticism as emotional, as if it has no reasoned connection to Mr. Bush’s policies.

This form of attack is especially galling from a president who from the start tried to paint this war as virtually sacrifice-free: the Iraqis would welcome America with open arms, the war would be paid for with Iraqi oil revenues — and the all-volunteer military would concentrate the sacrifice on only a portion of the nation’s families.

Mr. Bush’s comments about Mr. Dowd are a reflection of the otherworldliness that permeates his public appearances these days. Mr. Bush seems increasingly isolated, clinging to a fantasy version of Iraq that is more and more disconnected from reality. He gives a frightening impression that he has never heard any voice from any quarter that gave him pause, much less led him to rethink a position.

Mr. Bush’s former campaign aide showed an open-mindedness and willingness to adapt to reality that is sorely lacking in the commander in chief.

[rusty_parts2001]

1. What else did you expect ...

from a cold-hearted, sociopathic b#stard.

[BOSSHOG]

2. Would that not be the politics of personal destruction

that republicans never practice? Attempting to destroy one of his own. I cannot describe my contempt. Hateful, evil, lying bastards. The good news, the gop will be in permanent minority status for a generation.

[Supersedeas]

10. Personal destruction is fine as long as directed at war critics

[BOSSHOG]

3. Would that not be the politics of personal destruction

that republicans never practice? Attempting to destroy one of his own. I cannot describe my contempt. Hateful, evil, lying bastards. The good news, the gop will be in permanent minority status for a generation.

[tanyev]

4. Would that also apply to supporters of the war who are too emotional?

[Vickers]

5. Oh, did The Twins enlist?

:sarcasm:

[yellowcanine]

6. I saw that and thought, "He is going to regret saying that." This will piss off military families

big time. Heckava job, Bushie!

[crikkett]

7. Rememeber the incident when * asked Webb how his son was doing?

back in January

[windbreeze]

8. So send the twins mr *...they're deployable too, aren't they?

oh, excuse me...they are only deployable to Paraguay...or Brazil...or Argentina...or...somewhere they can make a bigger name for themselves...surely it wouldn't be Iraq/Afghanistan...
wb

[Karenina]

9. Why do I doubt he'd really care much

if anything awful happened to his daughters...

[windbreeze]

11. good point....n/t