Here's why: when the Dems say they were misled by Bush, it puts Bush in an awkward position with the voters who are reconsidering their support for the war. This is because they too were misled, in precisely the same way. So when Bush says "well, you supported the war before", he could be talking to the Middle Americans that polled in favor of the war and then voted for him on account of his being the War President.
Now that past supporters are closely re-examining their war approval, Bush is badly advised to go on the attack this way, because the voters
will identify with the Dems on this one. All the Dems have to say is:
"You asked for our support and we gave it, based on your representation of the intelligence. Now that we know the intel was fluffed up, doctored, distorted, manufactured, and selectively presented with all the high drama and rhetoric of mushroom clouds and the like, we realize that we were duped by you.
We fucked up--we trusted you.
It won't happen again."
And when you consider that Bush is already saying "fuck off" to all the Americans were against the war from the start, it is clear that the only people he is sparing from his diatribe are the ones who still support the war.
WAKE UP AMERICA! Your own president is telling you to shove it! You gonna take that from this punk?
I didn't think so.
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Slightly off topic: I was in Cedar Rapids Friday and Saturday, and read in the local paper a story about how Christie Whitman is getting really frustrated with the Republican wing of the Republican party (she's pro-choice), and even though all she's trying to do is start a dialogue with other Republicans, I read some Iowa Congresscritter (a woman) had the following reaction: "we're a pro-life party now and she better get used to it. If she doesn't like it, maybe she should switch parties."
Yeah! She really said that! These people are batshit crazy, and they are driving the bus for the Reps! Amazing!
If we can't isolate and defeat these nutjobs, it's time to just move to the mountains somewhere.