So Much for the "Charm" Offensive

That is to say, if by "charm," you mean "momentarily toning down--somewhat--the sneering contempt for any and all who don't cower in his presence" attitude displayed by the upper tiers of the administration. Now that they've acknowledged criminal acts, and despite pathetic attempts by true believers to make excuses, all the "hard work" of the last three weeks--speechifying, extemporaneous--sort of--speechifying, special media "access,"--all is so much water under the bridge...and the latest purple fingered turning point is too. After a much touted "lull" in the violence (duh--the insurgents aren't stupid), the usual snafu conditions have returned, and will continue indefinitely--thanks to Team Bush.

This time around it was Big Time's turn to pay a "surprise" visit to their handiwork--as if there could be any other kind of trip by an administration official to the region--oh, and changing the topic slightly, Today in Iraq (though no other media outlet) notes today's anniversary of...Donald Rumsfeld offering a firm handshake to his Iraqi buddy...Saddam Hussein. Guess that relationship hit the skids.

So, I'm guessing the "charm" offensive is pretty much over, and it'll be back to the bunker for the dauphin--especially if this story by Jonathan Alter has any legs. Short version: Shrub called in Art Sulzberger and Bill Keller (publisher and editor of New Pravda) a couple of weeks ago, and begged them to NOT publish the domestic spying sans warrants story they'd already sat on for over a year.

Kind of undercuts the image of a firm, resolute Chimp-in-Chief, eh? Pleading with the epitome of "liberal," blue-state media (yeah, I know that's horseshit, but it ain't the only horseshit wingnuts fuel up on).

About the only option available to Shrubusto these days is to lay low and hope the storm blows over--because this time the Democrats aren't backing down, and further revelations about just what sort of spying was going on make a mockery of Team Bush's defense that they were "protecting" the American people

Shrub's a new found "resolve" to find and punish whoever leaked the information is likewise a joke, when you consider how firmly his ass was planted on his hands when it came to the matter of Valerie Plame.

No, the edifice isn't imploding--yet--but there's an unmistakble rumbling indicative of foundation failure in this rot of an administration...and, if things keep moving in this direction, a toxic and radioactive Team Bush will soon need as much gutting and cleaning as a Gentilly double-shotgun.

Clean the Gentilly double-shotgun. Let this adminstration rot and decay...