Good news & bad news

Rep. John Murtha is my hero today! I woke up to the news "It's time to bring them home," said Rep. John Murtha, a decorated Vietnam combat veteran, choking back tears during remarks to reporters. "Our military has accomplished its mission and done its duty." Rep Murtha gets it. If you heard him talk about the young soldier who was denied a Purple Heart because friendly fire caused his injuries, then you know he gets it. Rep Murtha has cried for the loss of my son and the 2083 American soldiers that have been killed as a result of this war in Iraq. He knows the human cost of this war. 60% of the people in this country know the same.

And 14 time zones away, GW's smirk translates into any language, even in South Korea where he is calling war critics "irresponsible" and "playing politics". Okay, I half agree with him . This playing politics stuff is just wrong, I don't care if you are a democrat or a republican or if you are red or blue, this war is wrong. Note the tense? Let's not have a discussion of what *was*. Let's try and put our finest minds together and stop the killing. Let's figure out an exit strategy that most people can agree with. Bring our men and women home from Iraq. Rep Murtha says "Our military has accomplished its mission and done its duty." He is right, of course.

But let's get back to the "irresponsible" Americans. GW once said "I don't read books, I read people" . George, it's time to start reading the people of this country, listen to them. They are not happy with the way things are going in Iraq. They are not happy that there is no exit strategy and they are not happy with your condescending attitude towards those of us who disagree with you. It *is* patriotic to question our leaders when we believe we are being taken in a direction that is not right. The #2 guy in this country, Dick Cheney, was furious when he heard Chuck Hagel say it is patriotic to question the president's actions- Cheney said Hagel's comments were reprehensible. Cheney called Democrats "opportunists" who were peddling "cynical and pernicious falsehoods" to gain political advantage while U.S. soldiers died in Iraq. Oh puhlease! Don't hide behind those brave soldiers. Quick, Dick, how many American soldiers have been killed in Iraq? I know, you don't know THAT number!

This administration doesn't get it. They are not listening to the American public. This president seems to have forgotten that he works for us. One year ago he was telling us he had a mandate, he had plenty of political capital to spend after the election. I don't think so- this presidency is nearing bankruptcy with his current level of support. I only hope that GW gets it before he bankrupts this country, both fiscally and emotionally.

And thank God for men like John Murtha!