Small, tentative steps forward.

But forward. So I'm pleased.

Don't be so sure. He may bring forth yet some sort of constitutional amendment that ends term limits *shudder*

I first read this as "repeats." So the second take was a pleasant surprise.

Not with approval ratings in the low thirties, he won't. Frankly, I doubt he could even engineer an outright coup.

The only way he could manage a coup is to have enough political flunkies inside the army, doing political work, instead of representing the actual armed forces. Fortunately for us, that'll never happen.

Exactly - though I don't know that I'd call what's happening to our military right now "fortunate," except specifically insofar as it reduces the possibility of dramatically extraconstitutional shenanigans from The Decider.

No he won't. Constitutional amendments take more than a decade to be made law. And by that time we'll have some other jackass president we don't want around for any longer.

Ditto. He's been visiting Sydney this last week.

Hence we've been living with traffic restrictions and incessant helicopter noise.

This little breach of security was somewhat amusing, in the middle of it all.

It's my understanding that the WH is writing the speech for Patraeus, no script will be available (except for what is transcribed), and that Patraeus will follow up with an exclusive interview on Fox. It's dangerous that Bush needs to co-opt military voices to support unpopular political measures.

Back to the topic, it's a positive thing that the good fight goes forward, even if Bush vetoes it. It shows the rest of the world that all isn't lost, and there's still forward-thinking people in the US government.

It's not a Bush issue. It's not even exactly a Republican issue. This is the number one priority Christian conservative issue. Bush, claims he is a born-again Chrisitan, but he's hardly an authority in the religion. He is simply serving his religious base. And they are not satisfied with simply preaching against abortion to their believers. It is their intent to force everybody to live by their religious standards. Powerful Christian conservatives have even setup law schools, Liberty University for one example, where the priority is to educate conservative Chrisitan lawyers to repleal Roe Vs. Wade.

Prepare to be dealing with this issue for the long haul people. I'd say decades, at least. I really doubt the ability of self-proclaimed 'moderate' Chrisitans to check their right-wing fellowships.

I don't suppose you could talk him into staying? ... lol

Seriously Please

Sorry guys, but he's alread left his mark for the next ten years at least. Hasn't he appointed three members to the supreme court? I fear that our children will be reading about the bible rather than exploring the universe

Two actually. While the court seems to be leaning more conservative now, it's still pretty split.

The major damage may come if there is another Republican elected in '08. Ginsberg is 74 and can't hold out forever.

I know we don't always agree, Bitch_PHD, but I'm w/ya wholeheartedly on this one. And I, for one, have enough of a morbid curiosity to wonder what would happen if W. had the stones to veto.

-TM

this is good news