Junior High School Government

The Republicans, both in the Administration and in the Congress, seem to be channeling the conduct of a bunch of kids in junior high school. Or maybe elementary school.

First example: The Bush Administration. When asked why they will not engage in talks with a country they disapprove of, the answer is almost invariably along the lines of "they know what they should (do)(stop doing) before we will talk to them."

Oh, please. "Shawna was mean to me, I'm not going to invite her unless she apologizes."

The mere point that it has to be explained to these mental midgets that diplomacy is the process of negotiation and discussion boggles the mind.

Second point: Republicans in the Senate said that the MoveOn advertisement "General Betray Us" made it far easier for them to stand with Chimpy.

"You were mean to Chimpy's pet general so we are not going to work with you to try and end the war."

Bush co-opted Gen. Petraeus to be his mouthpiece on Iraq. Let's not forget that Bush went shopping early this year to find a general who would implement the Kagan Surge. Petraeus signed onto the surge and for that, he got his fourth star. If you really expected Petraeus to say anything other than "the surge is working," then you probably chase rainbows after a late-afternoon shower.

And that line of his that he had not cleared his testimony with anyone defies credulity.

So because some group took out an ad, the Republicans are going to let Bush continue to feed his meatgrinder in Iraq and continue to prop up the Iraqi politicians as they waste month after month doing nothing. All because MoveOn was mean to Bushi's pet general.

Amazing.