Why didn't Bush announce this prior to election?

[jannyk]

I think if he had, a heavy military state such as VA, would have probably stayed with him. Could well have made a difference in the other very close races.

So, was he so out of touch he wasn't aware he needed the 'bounce' or what. Why today - when it's too late to make a difference - and not 2/5/7 days ago?

[wtmusic]

1. Or it could look like desperation

Tossing heavy things overboard, as it were.

[sweetheart]

10. no, they're scared shitless

They are stripped entirely of any mandate to govern, like with a company
that is being restructured by its shareholders, the majority of the board
is demanding heads. Its not funny anymore, they can't laugh it off in any
chamber, and if the media turns on them, this could make the nixon impeachment
look like nuthin'. The entire corporate/republican axis could be rooted out
root and branch, entirely outed via its deceptions, and the political ground salted
that no bunch of amerinazis ever grow there again.

[NYC Liberal]

2. He tried to explain this at his presser today

Of course, I couldn't understand what he was trying to say. As usual.

[delphinium]

3. No one told him they were going to lose

Remember, Bush only surrounds himself with yes men and women. And KKKarl probably actually believed his GOTV effort would make the difference.

[troublemaker]

4. There are war fundamentalists--true believers akin to evangelicals on social issues

Gung-ho war nuts are a big part of his base and he couldn't afford the loss because independents wouldn't have been attracted enough to overcome base losses. (Rummy resigning would show independents that their concern over the war was justified)

[Spider Jerusalem]

5. Because just a few days ago he had total confidence in Rumsfeld...

and was planning to keep him onboard till the end of his term, remember?

This is a desperate attempt to appease public sentiment. If the Republicans had maintained control of Congress yesterday, today would be business as usual.

[ZENmud]

6. Two reasons...

Someone else said (fromthis discussion, I didn't capture name) to steal Democratic thunder... but I agree with you, JK, it means Rove has lost his voice, perhaps (because I can't but think that he suggested this a while ago...)?

How long will the lapdog press bark up this tree??

ZENmud

[Tesha]

14. As long as large corporations own the lapdogs.

> How long will the lapdog press bark up this tree??

As long as large corporations own the lapdogs.

Tesha

[JackBeck]

7. Announcing before the election would be

an admission to how Iraq is a failed policy.

[longship]

8. Because another twenty House seats would have flipped.

Or, more likely, because ChimpCo would have been told that another twenty seats would flip. Either way, there's no way ChimpCo announces this prior to the election.

[Avalux]

9. Because the decision was made yesterday. n/t

[RedStateShame]

11. 'Cos Lieberman won

In the spirit of No Failed Politician Left Behind--Hello, Mr. Ashcroft--I get a feeling that had Connecticut lost its Joementum, Dubya would have made a phone call to Hartford last night.

[Horse with no Name]

12. Because it would have hurt them equally as bad

if he had.
The Neocon agenda has been rebuked.
If they rebuked it BEFORE the election, they would have lost anyway.
This way, they can control the news cycle.
Republican's are going to appear to clean up their own mess and not give the Democrats the glory.

[lapfog_1]

13. They didn't make the decision until today

don't believe the MSM and the repuke talking points.

Bush might have talked with people over the weekend, but Rummy would still be SecDef if Repukes held the House.