PRESIDENT BUSH'S BIG DAY

Well, there's been so much bad news for the President for so long that it's only fair that he gets to have a Big Day. And what a day it was!

From the AP via the Houston Chronicle:

Bush makes surprise visit to Baghdad

President Bush assured Iraqis in a surprise visit to Baghdad today that the United States stands with them and their new government. "It's in our interest that Iraq succeed," he said, seated alongside newly named Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

The dramatic trip came as Bush sought to bolster support for Iraq's fledgling government and U.S. war policy at home.

And

Today's trip came as Bush struggled for solid footing for his presidency, rocked by the Iraq war and other problems. About 2,500 members of the military have died since the war began in March 2003.

War anxiety has been the driving force behind Bush's plunge in the polls and a cause of Republican distress about holding control of Congress in the November mid-tem elections.

Approval of Bush's handling of Iraq has dipped to 33 percent, a new low, and his overall job approval rating was 35 percent in a new AP-Ipsos Poll.

The poll, taken last week before the announcement of the death of al-Zarqawi, found that 59 percent of adults said the United States made a mistake in going to war in Iraq — the highest level yet in AP-Ipsos polling. It also found that more than half — 54 percent — said it's unlikely that a stable democratic government will be established in Iraq — also a new high.

Click here for the rest.

I guess the second part of the excerpt says it all: this was clearly another publicity stunt, only this time without the fake turkey Spam-like substance for Thanksgiving. Over at Eschaton, Atrios called it "Operation Photo Op." Unfortunately for our Big Day boy, it's probably going to take much, much more than a quick trip to the green zone to lift those awful poll ratings. And I think the only thing that's going to win the hearts and minds of Iraqis is withdrawal. But at least the President had a Big Day over there. Probably got some sun, played some golf. Had a few beers. Just like old times in the deserts of West Texas.

But that's not the only thing for the Big Day boy on his Big Day. He got a nice big present.

Again from the AP via the Houston Chronicle:

Rove won't be charged in CIA leak case

Top White House aide Karl Rove has been told by prosecutors he won't be charged with any crimes in the investigation into the leak of a CIA officer's identity, his lawyer said today, lifting a heavy burden from one of President Bush's most trusted advisers.

Attorney Robert Luskin said that special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald informed him of the decision on Monday, ending months of speculation about the fate of Rove, the architect of Bush's 2004 re-election now focused on stopping Democrats from capturing the House or Senate in this November's elections.

Click here for the rest.

Damn.

Everybody was so hopeful about an indictment.

Everybody, that is, except for our Big Day boy! Today, little George found out that he won't have to face the remainder of his term without his brain! You just know that's got to make him happy. The only thing that could make today better for the Big Day boy is cake and ice cream. I hope he's having some right now. And I also hope he's wearing a party hat, you know, the conical kind, with a skinny elastic band to hold it on his head. Little George deserves some good times.

In all seriousness, there is rampant speculation on the left side of the blogosphere that Rove cut some kind of deal with Fitzgerald, immunity in exchange for testimony against Libby, or, god I hope, Dead Eye Dick, a.k.a. the Vice President. I mean, really, I seriously doubt that the grand jury bought Rove's faulty memory bullshit: "Oh, yeah, I can't believe that I completely forgot that conversation with that Time Magazine reporter when I told him about Plame; I guess I'm just a big idiot. Hahaha. Silly me." I guess we'll find out what's going here on in a year or so.

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