President George W. Bush,
Soon you will be given an emergency spending bill for our troops, in particular the ones you sent to Iraq. You plan to veto the bill because you think there are too many constraints in it...at least that's what you say in public.
There also seems to be some frustration from your Administration with the fact that you will be delivered this bill on the anniversary of of your infamous "Mission Accomplished" Speech. Apparently, there are those who see this as some sort of political stunt.
All I can say is "Happy Anniversary, you jerk."
You remember this shot, don't you? I think you might; you looked so happy back then. The fighting part in Iraq was going pretty good for you and Democrats seemed to be so scared of talking about Iraq. Somebody in your camp thought it would be a terrific idea to have you swoop in on an aircraft carrier. Was it because the Democrats were in the first of their debates, and your people wanted to steal the spotlight? I wonder. Anyway, you landed in your fancy flightsuit and waved to a cheering crowd of people who, by tradition, are supposed to always show the President of the United States the upmost respect.
The media covered the event like it was the Fourth of July, Christmas, and all rolled into one. And boy did they gush over you. Don't believe me? Here's some examples:
Like Chris Matthews:
What do you make of the actual visual that people will see on TV and probably, as you know, as well as I, will remember a lot longer than words spoken tonight? And that's the president looking very much like a jet, you know, a high-flying jet star. A guy who is a jet pilot. Has been in the past when he was younger, obviously. What does that image mean to the American people, a guy who can actually get into a supersonic plane and actually fly in an unpressurized cabin like an actual jet pilot?
Ann Coulter also chimed in:
COULTER: It's stunning. It's amazing. I think it's huge. I mean, he's landing on a boat at 150 miles per hour. It's tremendous. It's hard to imagine any Democrat being able to do that. And it doesn't matter if Democrats try to ridicule it. It's stunning, and it speaks for itself.
Wolf Blizter made you sound like Top Gun:
A little bit of history and a lot of drama today when President Bush became the first commander in chief to make a tailhook landing on an aircraft carrier. A one-time Fighter Dog himself in the Air National Guard, the president flew in the co-pilot seat with a trip to the USS Abraham Lincoln. And he then mingled with the pilots and the crew members of the carrier on its way back from a deployment which covered the war in Iraq and before that, the war in Afghanistan. From that same deck tonight, the president will make more history. He'll deliver a major address to the nation.
Brian Wiliams turned back the clock for you:
WILLIAMS: And two immutable truths about the president that the Democrats can't change: He's a youthful guy. He looked terrific and full of energy in a flight suit. He is a former pilot, so it's not a foreign art farm -- art form to him. Not all presidents could have pulled this scene off today.
G. Gordon Liddy (a week later) talked about the Democrat's criticism of your appearance:
LIDDY:
Well, I -- in the first place, I think it's envy. I mean, after all, Al Gore had to go get some woman to tell him how to be a man. And here comes George Bush. You know, he's in his flight suit, he's striding across the deck, and he's wearing his parachute harness, you know -- and I've worn those because I parachute -- and it makes the best of his manly characteristic. You go run those -- run that stuff again of him walking across there with the parachute. He has just won every woman's vote in the United States of America. You know, all those women who say size doesn't count -- they're all liars. Check that out. I hope the Democrats keep ratting on him and all of this stuff so that they keep showing that tape.
Then there was the speech. It was very empowering considering that I had just seen the Commander in Chief arrive as if he had been on the battlefield like the generals and kings of old; the combination of the two proved very convincing at the time. Part of me took the "Major Combat Operations have ended" statement as an end point for keeping the majority of our troops overseas, thinking that this was the Gulf War Redux. Another part was curious as to how you had come to such a conclusion so fast. After all, a few weeks prior you and your people had said that this country presented the biggest threat to 21st Century America. Wouldn't such a formadible foe put up a better fight? Maybe we underestimated, or miscalulated, the strengths and weakness of our opponent?
There are plenty of parts to pick at, but four years later, this one kinda sticks out:
Other nations in history have fought in foreign lands and remained to occupy and exploit. Americans, following a battle, want nothing more than to return home. And that is your direction tonight. (Applause.) After service in the Afghan -- and Iraqi theaters of war -- after 100,000 miles, on the longest carrier deployment in recent history, you are homeward bound. (Applause.) Some of you will see new family members for the first time -- 150 babies were born while their fathers were on the Lincoln. Your families are proud of you, and your nation will welcome you. (Applause.)
I guess back then, it was easy to say things like "you are homeward bound" and "some of you will see new family members." Maybe you actually believed it, because the whole tone of your speech sounded like you were saying "the tough, bloody part is over."
I'm curious, when you announced your latest surge (in wake of the Democrat's takeover of Congress, no less), did you feel like you father after his infamous "Read my lips: 'No new taxes'" promise backfired on him? Did you feel any kind of sympathy for the countless other babies who were being born and the children growing up during this occupation, many who will never know their fathers and mothers? And do you still think Americans "want nothing more than [the troops] to return home?"
Regardless; all in all, it seemed like a good day for you. The media fell at your feet, you had a good deal of the public behind you, and the Democrats didn't seem to have a leg to stand on. Things when so well, they made an action figure in your honor (with kung-fu grip, too!)
So I'm sure you know a PR stunt when you see it. I'm sure you understand the phrase "playing politics." I say this because it wasn't the first time you tried to distort reality, it wouldn't be the last. I say this because four years ago, when you could have been somber and talking about the next phase in Iraq's future, you chose to play G.I. Joe.
And now with scores of Americans, Allies and Iraqis dead, the Democrats in power, the public against you and the media slowly waking up from a four year hangover, you want to point fingers at people for trying to use a significant period to make a significant point.
Happy Anniversary, you jerk.
UPDATE: Think Progress has a great "by the numbers" breakdown of this special anniversary.