Iraq PM: Don't Tell Us What to Do

Apparently the idea of an imposed "timetable" on Iraq doesn't sit too well with the government there. The Bush administration wants to put the responsibility for progress in Iraq on the Iraqis. If only they could get their act together things would be rosy, George argued. When the real source of the problem was the decision to invade Iraq in the first place. In any case, if the government of Iraq doesn't want to do what is necessary to win the war, then its time to get out.

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The President isn't satisfied with the progress of the war in Iraq. But believes we are winning. What proof does he have that the war is being won? That is trying to have it both ways. He is admitting that the public is dissatisfied. Nonetheless, he won't budge. Expect more of the same if he succeeds in convincing voters to not punish the Republicans for his sins. And why is he taking "responsibility" for something that is working and is a just cause?

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Its a sign of how bad things have gotten in the "other war":

At least 60 civilians were killed during NATO operations in a volatile southern area of Afghanistan this week, two government officials and a civilian said Thursday.

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This is an example of cynical legislation being passed in time for the elections. The immigration bill does very little to address the problem of illegal aliens flooding the country:

When President Bush signs a bill authorizing 700 miles of new fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border, he'll give GOP candidates a pre-election platform for asserting they're tough on illegal immigration. Yet the centerpiece of his immigration policy, a guest worker program, remains stalled in Congress.

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We didn't hear much yesterday from the president on same-sex marriage. The lack of leadership by this President on moral issues could keep Republicans from voting in 2 weeks:

In a decision likely to stoke the contentious election-year debate over same-sex marriage, the New Jersey Supreme Court has ruled that state lawmakers must provide the rights and benefits of marriage to gay and lesbian couples.

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The collapsing real estate market could have serious implications for the economy:

In further evidence of a sharp slowdown in the once-booming housing market, sales of existing homes fell for a sixth straight month in September and the median sales price dropped by a record amount.