Larsen Doesn't Buy Bush Lies - Snowjob Backfires

The first week of January, Congressman Rick Larsen (WA-02) was invited to the Whitehouse for a special briefing on Bush's 'new' plan for Iraq. What the Whitehouse told Larsen about who's idea the "surge" was didn't jive with what they'd told Congressmen Smith and Dicks in a later meeting. Smith and Dicks were handed the same line that Bush used in his speech, that the Iraqi government wanted more U.S. troops. But during Larsens briefing, the Iraqis weren't mentioned. And what's more, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has denied responsibility for the plan. (source:)

So yet another case of Bush and Company lying to America has been uncovered.

Larsen has now called for immediately beginning the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.

LARSEN SWITCH

WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Everett, called for a partial withdrawal of American forces from Iraq.
WHY NOW? Larsen believes the Iraqi government is using the American military for its own purposes and now is the time to focus on fighting terrorism outside of Iraq or bolstering the war in Afghanistan.

I was very glad to read in the article: ""More troops do not equal a new way forward in Iraq," Larsen said after his announcement. "The president does not understand the meaning of the election in 2006."" I'd say it also shows that Rick gets what the '06 election meant.

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Doubtless the article about Larsens announcement will cause our local right-wing loonies to send lots of angry emails to the Herald's Government reporter Sam Taylor. They agree with Steven Colbert's conclusion that "reality has a well-known liberal bias".

Take for instance, a recent letter-to-the-editor that began: "Contrary to most recent headlines, many people such as me are still pleased and confident with President Bush." He may still trust Bush, but he refuses to see that he's in an ever shrinking minority. A USA TODAY/Gallup Poll found that only 12% of Americans favored sending more troops to Iraq.

Although it didn't have the result Bush's speechwriters intended, his speech on escalation surge enhancement of troops in Iraq certainly did have an effect, :

49% said it is "unlikely" the U.S. will win or "certain" it will not, vs. 46% who said that before Bush's speech.

Bush's overall "approval rating" stood at 34%, vs. 37% before the speech.

The percentage who said they disapprove of Bush's performance as president was 63%, vs. 59% before the speech.