George W. Bush is not asking for $50 billion in additional appropriations for Iraq.
He's upping his already pending ask for $147 billion by $50 billion more.
Four years and already nearly a half trillion (with a "t") dollars in, the president now seeks an additional $200 billion? And we're thinking of giving it to him?
Seventy-plus percent of America wants us out. Less than a quarter of Americans support the president in anything he does. Democrats hold the majority in both houses of Congress.
And this president is asking for a 40% increase in Iraq spending?
This would be completely insane if it weren't for the fact that it looks like he's going to get it.
This is an economic "surge" -- that is, a damn-the-torpedoes, 180 degrees in the wrong direction charge -- that's every bit as crazy, counterintuitive, and Rovian as was announcing the troop "surge" immediately after an election that demanded the exact opposite. And it's got us off balance and on our heels again.
But we know that. Fine. The point, though, is that this is not about $50 billion, which is apparently now considered pocket change in DC -- so long as it's being spent on paying for Republican election tactics the Iraq occupation, that is.
As ridiculous as it is that elected Democrats would consider acceding to this, it's even worse that they're minimizing it by referring to the president's extortion scheme as being worth a mere $50 billion.
It's apparently four times that amount, and if that's not enough to wake you up to the insanity of it, then you should at least be ready to admit what you're doing. Which, by the way, is buying a majority share in Iraq.
Just like it was in December. You "surge" it, you bought it.