Mission Accomplished

To those who wish President Bush would admit his mistakes, cast your gaze upon events of the last few days:

Like ancient supplicants trying to appease the angry gods, the White House has admitted it erred in using the phrase “mission accomplished” five years ago. The response has been less than gracious, with the DNC and smirking journalists piling on. Can’t really blame them, I guess. Politics is blood sport and savvy fighters never pass up a chance to clobber the opponent. Especially one who had them dancing to his tune a short few years ago.

The Dems and the press still have a bad taste in their mouth from the kisses they gave the President immediately after 9/11. The Dems are still red-faced from being duped by someone so stupid. The press still nurses a guilty conscience for collaborating with the enemy White House.

Remember the fawning coverage of SecDef Rumsfeld, how his daily press conferences were must-see TV? Remember how President Bush gained stature and gravitas in those days after the catastrophe? The press took him seriously and they’ve hated themselves for it ever since.

But the coup de grace was the aircraft carrier event starring a dashing President Bush as Top Gun Commander in Chief. He looked so heroic. The press must have been simmering in self-loathing as they covered that tableau worthy of Hollywood. I imagine them muttering to themselves, swearing revenge on the man who made them complicit in this obviously staged event (What presidential event isn’t staged?)

Oh yes, the Dems and the press must have inwardly swore he would have to pay. Pay for the swagger, the unwavering religious belief, the cowboy mentality (smoke ‘em out! Yer either with us or agin’ us), the inability or disinclination to explain himself. He’d have to pay for that 90% approval rating! Can’t let anybody get that big, not even the president. Unfortunately, subsequent poor decision-making and various blunders by his administration hastened his downfall.

President Bush is now where the press and the Dems want him: A failed president sitting on a dismal approval rating. Mission Accomplished.