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(AP Photo) What a joke. Did Bush hire Frank Luntz to come up with a new phrase or something?

President Bush and Iraq's prime minister have agreed to set a "general time horizon" for bringing more U.S. troops home from the war, a dramatic shift from the administration's once-ironclad unwillingness to talk about any kind of deadline or timetable.

The announcement Friday put Bush in the position of offering to talk with Iraqi leaders about a politically charged issue that he adamantly has refused to discuss with the Democratic-led Congress at home. It also could complicate the presidential campaign arguments of Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama who have staked out starkly opposite stands about the unpopular war.

Bush repeatedly has vetoed legislation approved by Congress setting deadlines for American troop cutbacks...read on

It might be 'very vague and nebulous,' but it is the complete opposite of anything the White House has ever said about Iraq before. I love the timing of it all. Wait for Obama to go overseas and spring it on us...Classic Rovian tactics.

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116 Comments
Mike's picture

WTF?

Mike's picture

These guys have no soul. Now who's playing politics and games with lives? I hope the MSM calls them on this blatant attenpt by the WH to influence the election by reversing course, cutting and running now that it's political suicide to stay the course.

Mister Anderson's picture

I forgot who said it, but they said it best when they said that George Bush beat McCain in 2000, and George Bush is going to beat McCain in 2008. What's the over-under of McCain having a flashback on Bush by January?

John McCain spent all of 2004 - 2006 trying to suck up to George Bush and appeal to the Conservatives. As soon as he win the nomination, Bush starts "refining" his positions to reflect Obama's on McCain's strongest issue: Foreign Policy. I mean, if the media wasn't Obama obsessed, they wouldn't be missing this great drama playing out before our eyes between Bush and McCain.

sPAZ's picture

Liar - any thing to try and make a good pre-election impression

eric's picture

Now he's a Nazi appeaser.

Solodon's picture

Bush, Cheney, -- The whole administration has no credibility.

Both have lied to the American public in the past and they will go on lying.

Both of them tried to advance the NeoConservative world view which has since been proven false and destructive.

cg the 2nd's picture

I bet Limbaugh and Hannity are gonna shit on Bush for this [/chortle]

Broadway Carl's picture

I love the timing of it all. Wait for Obama to go overseas and spring it on us…

Yes, because it's not like Obama will get that news while he's gone and make a statement or something. What a bunch of complete idiots.

orcas's picture

The Prime Minister of Iraq is calling for a 5 year timetable for withdrawal. Candidate Obama proposes a 16 month timetable. President Obama, after consultations with Gen. Petraeus and the Iraq govt, will compromise and commit to a 3 1/2 year period of withdrawal.

RalphB.'s picture

This guy (Bush) is such a 5-year-old. They can't use the term "timetable" because that's what the Dems have been calling for and to agree to that now would mean "losing" to the Dems (which we all know the Repugs can NEVER, EVER let happen). So what do they do? They come up with a new term, Time Horizon, (ooh, ahh) and now, with their shiny new term they're not caving to what the Dems have been saying all along, they're blazing their own trail. Jeez, I think I'm gonna puke!

constituent's picture

NEOCON assklown

Solodon's picture

Bush is the total idiot. Now he will talk with Iran but not with John McCain.

Conservatives and their Fox News friends will forever fuck the American Middle Class.

mellowjohn's picture

and the last u.s. soldier in iraq will be withdrawn on november 3, 2008. that's my "general time horizon."

Janet's picture

The dems when they took over wanted a time line, and bush vetoed it, repeatedly. I wonder if they had called it a "time horizon" they could have gotten is passed. What a joke.
Apparently a time horizon won't embolden the enemy like a timetable would have.

Janet's picture

BTW over 1000 troops have died since bush vetoed the time lines.

Roket's picture

Evidently their PR people are getting really desperate. I would prefer the ‘General Event Horizon’ since it has more umph to it, but I suppose there are copyright matters to consider.

Maldoror_Is_Ded_Ded_Ded's picture

Actually, Bush is referring to an upcoming Jean Claude Van Damme film about a Vietnam soldier who travels back to 1972 to avenge his fallen comrades. Van Damme's character is named "General Time Horizon" and he really kicks those Khmer Rouge bastids in the gonads. Bang! Pow! Swoosh!

Erroll's picture

Perhaps Obama will try and steal Bush's thunder by telling the nation and the world when he plans on setting a timetable for removing those troops, which he proposes to shift from Iraq, to that other abattoir in the so-called "good war" in Afghanistan.

Capt. Bat Hussein Guano's picture

“general time horizon”

Do you hear that? It's Orwell spinning and shitting in his grave from newspeak envy.

StirFry's picture

T minus 185 days and counting...his timing is impeccable.

Joel's picture

I think I'm going to be sick...

Pat Riot's picture

is this General Tim Horizon taking over for General Petraeus or something??

Frybread's picture

So Bush is calling a timetable for withdrawal a "time horizon" and benchmarks "aspirations." What a fucking child he is that he can't admit he was wrong!

JimboSlice's picture

You do realize that you can never actually reach the horizon, I think that phrase accurately desribes the Bush/McCain policy of the last 5 years where we have always been rounding the corner and making gains, victory and "winning" always being at the horizon.

StirFry's picture

cg the 2nd @ 7:

I bet Limbaugh and Hannity are gonna shit on Bush for this [/chortle]

Pigface and Hannity will agree with it because they are tools. And the followers will support what they say like the sheep they are.

CowBoy Bob in Austin's picture

It's another goddamned game of semantics. PLEEEZE, reporters... DON'T call it a "General Time Horizon."

THAT's STUPID AS HELL.

Call it a TIMETABLE. Because that's what it is... a TIMETABLE.

constituent's picture

Joel @ 21:

I think I'm going to be sick...

i've been ill for eight fxxking years i've had with incompetent clown....frinkin' extremist born again nut

Wee Mousie's picture

Wonderful. The Great Decider has decided to become the Great Bean Counter.

We cannot get accountability, but shall have accounting terminology.

dada's picture

He's desperate... about his legacy.

Reno's picture

they are trying to say that obama is bush's 3rd term... so, to make this total bullshit look true, bush is changing his policy to be in sync with obama's.

Got that?
They are linking bush to obama. want change? mclame.

lol
it's so fuckin stupid it just might work.

constituent's picture

Reno @ 30:

they are trying to say that obama is bush's 3rd term... so, to make this total bullshit look true, bush is changing his policy to be in sync with obama's.

Got that?
They are linking bush to obama. want change? mclame.

lol
it's so fuckin stupid it just might work.

i'm confused they said carter and now like bush they don't what they're talking about

numfar's picture

While I want there to be a time-frame for removing our children for Iraq, I believe "time horizon" to be a whole buncha weasel-words.

Shrubbie is still a douchebag.

ThatIsAll

moniker's picture

Beam me up, Scotty

One Fly's picture

Don't believe any of this crap. Biden assists the monkey in his lie. It's a diversion just like all the other times.

constituent's picture

veto,signing statements and executive privilege
his favorite weapon(s) of his enemy

StirFry's picture

Reno @ 30:

"it's so fuckin stupid it just might work."

This sums up the boosh policy for everything in last 8 years (ending up as a complete failure, of course)

Whitey Bitterman's picture

They got their Oil now.

Fucking Flip Flopper coke whore

harley's picture

Making a negative issue for McCain, a positive.

Mike's picture

The horizon is always fading in the distance though.......is this Condi-like democracy birth pangs?

Mike's picture

Did we win?

Loonie's picture

"Aah'm lookin' forward to workin' with General Time Horizon in forgin' a new strategy to win Iraq. General Horizon has served this country honorably with great honor, and we honor this."

ysbaddaden's picture

And I bet if any Democrat spoke about a time "horizon" FAUX news would be hyperventilating overthemselves screaming treason.

Required's picture

dada @ 29:

He's desperate... about his legacy.

No need for him to worry about that, it's already set: DEATH, DEBT, DISGRACE

Gus's picture

Incredible.!!!! Too little too late for this incredibly obtuse man. What he did not do for the last seven years he is trying to do now!!! @#@$#$@$@ IDIOT. I guess He finally realized that his legacy is nothing but physical, economic, psichological and national bankrupcy. interesting that with 6 months left he's finally negotiating with Iran and seting up a timetable. at least he's trying to fix his legacy. too little too late though.

J. Lebowski's picture

Bush refuses to set a timetable, declare war, escalate the war, spy on Americans, or torture or cover up crimes. But he will set a General Time Horizon declare a War on Terror, add a Surge, start a Terrorist Surveillance Program and introduce Enhanced Interrogation Techniques, which are all covered by the executive privilege.

Ruthless People's picture

Required @ 43:

dada @ 29:

He's desperate... about his legacy.

No need for him to worry about that, it's already set: DEATH, DEBT, DISGRACE

DISASTER and DESTRUCTION

j swift's picture

So is a time horizon, like the actual horizon, you know something you move toward and never reach, damn time horizon is always out there in the future.

The Ministry of Truth has been working overtime.

Ruthless People's picture

Reno @ 30:

they are trying to say that obama is bush's 3rd term... so, to make this total bullshit look true, bush is changing his policy to be in sync with obama's.

Got that?
They are linking bush to obama. want change? mclame.

lol
it's so fuckin stupid it just might work.

And Obama is changing his policies to be in sync with Bush's.. ..faith based initiatives, FISA...

Vote McSame for change! Could work.

Dr. Girlfriend's picture

"Eve of destruction, tax deduction, city inspectors, bill collectors,
Mod clothes in demand, population out of hand, suicide, too many bills,
Hippies moving to the hills. People all over the world are shouting, 'End the war.'
And the band played on."
Ball of Confusion by the Temptations 1970

38 years and the ball is still rolling.

lost_nacf_gop's picture

Roket @ 16:

Evidently their PR people are getting really desperate. I would prefer the ‘General Event Horizon’ since it has more umph to it, but I suppose there are copyright matters to consider.

I like "event horizon" too, because it reminds every smart person what a black hole Iraq has been for this country. Unfortunately there is a chorus of the stupid who will be chirping about this the way they are blurting to the same sheet of "Drill now Pay less" Halliburxxon muzak. Deny the vote to the terminally stupid.

LibertyLover's picture

Machiavellian = Rovian

Greg's picture

I can't stand the guy, but it's good to see he's finally come to his senses.

Charles's picture

Did W just "appease" the terrorists?

So have we killed them all over there so we don't have to kill them all over here W? Or are we finished freeing the Iraqi people from this world and into the afterlife? Have we set up a democracy as corrupt as ours over there (banana puppet republic)? And is the electricity on yet all over Baghdad? I mean, well...it's only been five and a half years.

Are the troops who have failed to protect our freedoms here while they were fighting to protect them over there going to come back here so they can continue to fail in protecting our freedoms here? Or will they be shipped to Afghanistan in a surge so the troops can fail to protect our freedoms here while they are making sure they kill them all over there so we don't have to kill them here? So if we already declared "mission accomplished" over five years ago, should we say it again? Just like we did in Vietnam...only different. In this case it looks as though we will declare victory and stay. After all, we nearly bankrupted the country so Halliburton could build those crappy fortresses or bases or greenzone thingy or whatever. What, are we just to abandon them so we can't continue to guard Exxon employees and OUR oil?

Or are the troops being pulled out so they can come here are help W cement his kingdom by placing us all under martial law? After all, martial law is just like a democracy...only different. Maybe W and Cheney will just hire Blackwater to round us up and kill us off if the troops are sent to Afghanistan in a surge to kill the evildoers in the Axis of Evil. Is the Pentagon working on a no-bid contract with them or will Halliburton step in and obtain the prize?

You know, I just can't keep up with all these sound bites.

the last skunk's picture

Ever notice that Bush always uses perfect lexicon to say exactly what he means? Horizon, he takes one step towards it and magically he is never any closer to reaching it. The horizons actual distance away always remains constant, one can neither get closer nor further.

jkb's picture

Why does Bush want to "cut and run"?

Charles's picture

the last skunk @ 54:

Ever notice that Bush always uses perfect lexicon to say exactly what he means? Horizon, he takes one step towards it and magically he is never any closer to reaching it. The horizons actual distance away always remains constant, one can neither get closer nor further.

It's something like the rainbow analogy. Even if you get to the end of the rainbow and find the pot of gold, you have to get past the evil little bitch of a Leprechaun. In other words, it's a fairy tale and doesn't mean squat.

cg's picture

"Bush wants to withdraw, Obama wants to withdraw. ZOMG, OBAMA IS A CONTINUATION OF BUSH!"

If this is their strategy, it's pathetic, even by Republican standards.

honuman's picture

Impeach the motherfucker already.

sportsguydave's picture

Ever notice that Bush always uses perfect lexicon to say exactly what he means?....

===============================================================

Yeah... he's fluent in Wingnut. Too bad he didn't learn English first ....

Rasputin's picture

Since he seems to be doing the things that the Dems have been wanting him to do for years, maybe we'll get lucky and he'll impeach himself!

Carlin's Ghost's picture

Capt. Bat Hussein Guano @ 19:

“general time horizon”

Do you hear that? It's Orwell spinning and shitting in his grave from newspeak envy.

Classic line, kudos to you my brother.

The unreachable horizon = the never intended withdrawl.

Bea's picture

Sure we'll align the general time horizon, with the general election, for a general course correction, that after the election keeps the troops for the next decade, at the insistence of the Generals, who are bought and paid for by the GOP.

Please tell me the uninformed populace won't believe a bit of this horseshite. Bea

Nicky's picture

When was Gen. Time Horizon on the ground in Iraq? How come the networks did not cover McCain when he met with Gen. T. Horizon?

Texans want to know if John McCain decided Phil Gramm did not meet the Dickie Flatt test.

al's picture

He seems to really mean it this time, afterall he got the damn oil contracts for his buddies. Maliki wants us the fuck out of there, this is good timing.

Nicky's picture

According to Wickepediatric, a General Time Horizon is the limited period in which you must reach your aspirational goal while on Viagra or your 4 hour woodie cause you some serious difficulty down the road and complicate that damn cataract surgery.

hotmouth's picture

Bush plays his supporters like violins. And they love it!!

hotmouth's picture

Rasputin @ 60:

Since he seems to be doing the things that the Dems have been wanting him to do for years, maybe we'll get lucky and he'll impeach himself!

Well, he is that dumb and the current crop of Dems are that easily manipulated.

zak's picture

What a great shame history cant be reversed and Bush was in that motorcade in Dallas in Nov 1963...only problem he doesn't have a brain so a bullet would go straight through, no major damage. The scarecrow from Over the Rainbow had more intelligence than the liar and impostor in the White House.

Edwin Hussein the whiner's picture

Cheny's been pulling Chimpy's strings a lot this week. Wonder what he'll have his mouth-piece say next.

I think they're scared Barack Obama will get the presidency and there'll be a heavy price to pay. (Hopefully jail or some executions-- oh yeah. Not a man of violence, but I'll make an exception here. Pass the popcorn.)

Laura Nason's picture

Once Bush and Cheney are out of office, they will no longer have any say in what happens in Iraq. How many times have they said, "If the Iraqi's want us to leave, we'll leave."? Too many to count. But at the same time keep badgering the Iraqi's to sign over all rights to run their own oil fields.
This is just another example of SMOKE AND MIRRORS. Think about it. If you're out sailing on the ocean, you see the horizon line, but as your boat moves, so does the horizon. Bush hasn't reversed course at all. This is just another example of Bush parsing words. "General Time Horizon"? Some place you can never REACH. "HaHa, people, fooled you again." That is those misguided people who believe in fairies and Santa Clause.

Abbybwood's picture

How's this for a new phrase??

http://sendkarlrovetojail.com/

dosido's picture

Oh hell bush/cheney lie to us and they lie to Maliki. Yeah, al, whatever you want...right. just sign here...

Ali's picture

How better to make Obama and Bush "similar" on the war. Just start having Bush mimic Obama. How very Orwellian. How many American morons will fall for it? Don't get too cocky about our failure of a president folks there are a lot of idiots in our country who believe everything they hear and have no ability to think critically. And there's still 4 months to go before the election.

E. Skyhawk's picture

Carlin's Ghost @ 61:

Capt. Bat Hussein Guano @ 19:

“general time horizon”

Do you hear that? It's Orwell spinning and shitting in his grave from newspeak envy.

Classic line, kudos to you my brother.

The unreachable horizon = the never intended withdrawl.

SO TRUE!! Bush is APPEASING Iran and lying to AMericans with "doublespeak" and talking outa both ends (ass and mouth) at the same time!!!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAAA!!!
"Time Horizon??""
Makes Shrubby look like the slimy weasle that he is!!!
Their neocon cabal is becoming desperate and cornered like rats till finally all imploding like dinosaurs going extinct!!
I love the smell of flip-flop doublespeaking crash and burn Wingnut in the morning!!
SMells like victory!!!

Joe Tseng's picture

It's not a timetable for withdrawal it's a “general time horizon”. And we're not negotiating with Iran, we're "setting guidelines."

Now leave us alone, we've only got six months to repair fuckhead's legacy.

alant's picture

Why not, right? Scooter Libby didn't get a pardon, he got a commutation. Totally different thing. Yep. Not a pardon at all.

Attention U.S.: If you voted for this man, you share the blame.

AgentX's picture

cg the 2nd @ 7:

I bet Limbaugh and Hannity are gonna shit on Bush for this [/chortle]

That's probably why they did this on a Friday- so that way they'll have 2 whole days to convince them to buy into it.

At any rate, this is the 2nd or 3rd time the Bush admin has advanced to a position that Senator Obama has taken.
Pakistan attacks was the first.
Negotiating with Iran
and now, we have starting discussions for 'benchmarks' in Iraq.

Did I miss something? Is Senator Obama already president and I just slept to November 7th? OR did Bush hand him the keys, said "here you go, sport. I'm clocking out early"? Countdown with Keith Olbermann had his guests discuss this development and it seems that McBush knows that double-down on Iraq is a lost bet. Reality has crushed their hopes for an oil empire.

mayday's picture

It was just last week that the Iraqi govt told bush to get our troops out of Iraq so now bush plays it as if it is his big idea - way to save face! You can't fire me - I quit

anun's picture

Obama should strike back instantly, bring out statement saying "The administration is taking the correct step from our play book, now also do the rest so that we can have a rolling start for Jan 2009"

Mattastic's picture

Of course. The difference here is that the administration is setting a "general time horizon", while the democratic congress wanted a "timetable for surrender". This is the time for Bush to try and salvage his burning legacy by doing everything the Dems have ever pushed for, but with "Phreedom Phrases" to make them sound extra manly and American. "None of that Stalinized 'universal health care' for us. Instead I propose we adopt a system of 'public restrengthinization'!"

Randy's picture

Of course the word Horizon describes something 'infinite with no limit' and cannnot be measured...
So, Bush is trying to avoid the word Timetable,so he will not look like he agreed with Democrats over the unavoidable reality that we have to schedule a withdrawal timetable.
On the other hand Bush is trying to come up with an answer to please Iraqi government and people of Iraq who are demanding US withdrawal .
So, Bush played with the wording..from 'Timetable' to 'Time Horizon..'

ferrofluid (Obama 08)'s picture

Maldoror_Is_Ded_Ded_Ded @ 17:

Actually, Bush is referring to an upcoming Jean Claude Van Damme film about a Vietnam soldier who travels back to 1972 to avenge his fallen comrades. Van Damme's character is named "General Time Horizon" and he really kicks those Khmer Rouge bastids in the gonads. Bang! Pow! Swoosh!

McC*nt has a supporting role in the movie, he travels back in time and pays his unpaid Hanoi hotel bill.

"Ah the 'crown prince' returns to pay his hotel bill, welcome welcome McHotdog, heres your hotel bill, five thousand đồng"

ferrofluid (Obama 08)'s picture

Iraq and Afghanistan are like theoretical phenomena blacks holes and their accompanying event horizons, beyond which is the point of no return.

ferrofluid (Obama 08)'s picture

StirFry @ 36:

Reno @ 30:

"it's so fuckin stupid it just might work."

This sums up the boosh policy for everything in last 8 years (ending up as a complete failure, of course)

Stupid is as stoopid does.
We do have a retard living in the white house.
The Chimpy $5 gallon, magic wand speech proved beyond all doubt earlier this week he is a complete fool.

ferrofluid (Obama 08)'s picture

Unless Stone's film 'W' is a sequel to 'Forest Gump' or pays serious tribute to its style and story,
Will be interesting to see if Stone has sold out and is making the 'legacy' foundation movie,
could be the end of two careers and Stone's credibility for good if it is a loyalist film.

Clumberfeet's picture

A “general time horizon” is classic Bushism word smithing where 'general' is nothing specific and 'horizon' is something you move toward but never get there.

kasinca's picture

Well I am sure it was a bad idea before it became a good idea.

edgarallenpoe's picture

Deadlines eventually arrive, but you never reach the horizon.

bobswire's picture

San Francisco has decided to honor President Bush by putting on the ballot a measure to rename Oceanside Water Pollution Control Plant the George W. Bush Sewage Plant.
Backers of the measure, who for several months circulated a petition to place the measure on the ballot, turned in more than 12,000 signatures on July 7, said organizer Brian McConnell. The Department of Elections on Thursday informed those supporters, the self-proclaimed Presidential Memorial Commission, that they had enough valid signatures - a minimum of 7,168 registered San Francisco voters - to qualify for the November ballot.

Pat Riot's picture

a sewage plant is too good for him, they should name the sewage itself after Bush!

Dancer's picture

This would just be hysterical IF one didn't consider some words from George Carlin that went something like: Consider how stupid the average American is and then remember that half the people are STUPIDER than that!!! Proven daily from my vantage point...

Amitola's picture

It doesn't matter what Bush says, or Obama, or McCain, or what words they use to describe the so-called withdrawal plan - timetable, long-range plan, horizon, whatever.

It ain't gonna' happen. The US has constructed several huge military bases to serve as the forward outposts of the neo-con expansion into the greater Middle East. Now that they have a foothold and secured the oil reserves of Iraq (almost), they're not going to abandon the plan.

There will be some sort of crisis, fake "terrorist" attack, invasion of the body-snatchers, something.... that will preclude any withdrawals and will, in fact, cause them to increase our military presence in the area. There's even more oil in Iran, you know. The Israelis promise to be very helpful in this regard - they have all those pretty missles and itchy trigger fingers.

Eagle Keeper's picture

dada @ 29:

He's desperate... about his legacy.

dada @ 29:

He's desperate... about his legacy.

So are his handlers and the Neothugs. The grinding noise you're starting to hear is the sound of the Republican paradigm shifting...without a clutch.

Impeach cheney and bush's picture

Time line horizon is further proof of what total idiots Bushco. are. Since the Iraq leadership wants the USA out of Iraq, Bush has agreed to avoid being kicked out by a sovereign country. And he cannot call an ace an ace. He must continue to lie--just stack that lie on top of the pile. His atrocities are so brazen it truly is mind boggling that the dems don't get serious about investigations.

Barry's picture

General Time Horizon does not even exist in the context Bush uses it. http://www.investorwords.com/4979/time_horizon.html
They're saying anything but timetable. Just like them sending the #3 state department official to Iran and say its not negotiating quoting Perino. Their eating their previous words and won't admit it. They are counting on the American people being stupid again, and they in fact are the stupid ones They just took orders from president Obama. Thank you Bushco.

Dwainw's picture

I'm a stupid and gullable american and I believe everything the administration is telling me and this is a great new concept. I can't understand why nobody thought of this before.It takes a great and wonderful leader to come up with this kind of unique Idea. Who else but the Greatest president of all time would of thought of a " General Time Horizon".(Does my sarcasm show here guys?)

Reno's picture

They are presenting the illusion of being a responsible benevolent government in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

But alas, if the last 7 years has taught us anything it's that neither this President or his supporters are interested in evidence or fact. If it makes for good teevee they love it... if it's boring government policy crap like what Obama talks about on air, they change the channel looking for something more exciting such as their fav teevee icon saying the other guy hates America.

As long as the fairness doctrine remains absent, and as long as the corporate person gets more votes than the citizen person, this shit will all carry on according to script.

A rally with 50 people supporting bush gets blanket coverage.
A rally with 5000 people opposing bush gets blanket blackout.
All you are left with is polls reported (and conducted/edited) by the media which has a proven track record of deliberately unbalancing the story in order to protect their corporate profits and growth.

lmab's picture

You know someone wrote that term for him and he wants to know who this "General Time Horizon" is and why hasn't he met him.

Monz's picture

I thought setting any kind of timeline for withdraw would embolden the terrorists. Why does stillPresident Bush hate the troops?

Mr Grey's picture

Time horizon? What a maroon! Just the kind of leadership you get from our Deciderator-in Chief.

RickMack's picture

We knew this was coming....right along with lower gas prices in September. Anything to pull the rug out from under Obama and increase the "feeling" of a strong rebound. I actually thought the shift of troops out of Iraq was going to start a little earlier, but they've been "holding up" on it for maximum effectiveness.

Besides, they'll need those troops in their planned attack of Iran......you know, the country we "can't" even THINK of negotiating with because.....what's that?......oh really?....it's okay to talk to them now? Wow.

So.............it's OKAY now to set a timetable, talk with Iran AND try to begin establishing seriousl alternative energies.

Damn, where have I heard this before? Oh yeah, I remember now! Obama. "Bout 15 months ago.

dob's picture

Horizons are funny things; even as you make progress moving towards the horizon, it remains at the same distance as ever. You can never reach it!

Rusty Shackleford's picture

General Time Horizon would be a sweet name for a superhero.

Marshal's picture

You all missed an important nugget of info, that Der Spiegel is publishing an interview with the Iraqi PM today where he is calling for a 16 month time table, and in fact endorsed Obama's plan. Bush (er, I mean Rove) is trying to stay out ahead of the story, and make it look like it was all his idea.

Flash's picture

Didn't Nixon do this right before his re-election? I'll bring home "A few" troops to make me look good, then proceed to bomb the crap out them and escalate the war once elected.

and the question:

why are we even there at all?

is lost for all time.

Capt. Bat Hussein Guano's picture

Carlin's Ghost @ 61:

Capt. Bat Hussein Guano @ 19:

“general time horizon”

Do you hear that? It's Orwell spinning and shitting in his grave from newspeak envy.

Classic line, kudos to you my brother.

The unreachable horizon = the never intended withdrawl.

Here's another one for you my brother Carlin: Event horizon=Black hole.

John Peterson's picture

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki told a German magazine he supported prospective U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's proposal that U.S. troops should leave Iraq within 16 months.

http://democurmudgeon.blogspot.com/2008/07/iraqi-prime-minister-maliki-b...

editor's picture

Guess what. There is no such thing. Its just republican wordplay; republican doublespeak.

editor's picture

Hey; the end is "just over the horizon"....... even though you can't ever see it.....

I Am A Banana's picture

GW is a 'general douche bag'.

Bob Villa's picture

Scheduling and timelines are essential for completing any project. To not demand them is a recipe for failure.

Imagine hiring a contractor to re-roof your house after spotting a leak. You call your brother-in law, your sisters husband, who is not the brightest guy. An alcoholic, but sober now for reportedly almost 3 months. He's somewhat the family handyman and lord knows he and your sister need the money, so you call him over for a look. He says you've got rotten wood everywhere, its full of carpenter ants and the thing's ready to cave in. You need a complete tear-off, boards and all. It's got to be done now or you're gonna risk injuring the kids, the house and everything in it. According to him it'll be a “piece of cake”, take 3 days (tops) and shouldn't be more than two grand. You shake hands and he starts to work. A week later he's still not done. He removed the roof and its been raining like mad. Furniture inside is being destroyed, his helpers are crushing your landscaping and you've gotten three flat tires from all the nails they left laying around. On top of that, you inspect the wood he took off and discover it's not rotten or full of bugs, that it probably just needed new shingles. Frustration is setting in and when asked, he won't even tell you how much it'll eventually cost or when it'll be done. He keeps asking for more time and money for materials. When cornered he says, “it'll be done when I'm finished, I even hired a bunch more kids from down the street to help. Check out how much progress we're making now. It's just this damn rain won't stop”. Eventually you tell him to get the hell off your property and your wife scolds you for hiring him in the first place. You want to just pack up and leave the house out of frustration, but you can't. You've got too much invested in this thing. So it's time to hire a new guy to finish the job. After interviewing dozens of guys, you've shortlisted it down to two. Ones been in the business for a long time, he even tells you about the time he fell off a roof and broke his back. He's got a nice new F150 work truck, ladders and the whole shot (which it turns out his wife bought for him). The other guy, young but professional, went to the best trade school around and showed you some real nice photo's of smaller roofs he's already done. You ask the “old-pro”, whats it gonna take to finish this thing? He says he can't really tell you, could be two weeks, could be two years, it doesn't really matter, but whatever it takes, he'll get the job done. The young guy says, in three weeks from now your roof will done and my crew and I 'll be out of here. The job may not be perfect, but we'll be gone and you can get on with your life.

Being the cautious and optimistic guy I am, guess which one I hired? Let me give you a hint, theres a new truck parked in front of the house and the damn roof still isn't done.

Capt. Bat Hussein Guano's picture

Bob Villa @ 112:

Scheduling and timelines are essential for completing any project. To not demand them is a recipe for failure.

Imagine hiring a contractor to re-roof your house after spotting a leak. You call your brother-in law, your sisters husband, who is not the brightest guy. An alcoholic, but sober now for reportedly almost 3 months. He's somewhat the family handyman and lord knows he and your sister need the money, so you call him over for a look. He says you've got rotten wood everywhere, its full of carpenter ants and the thing's ready to cave in. You need a complete tear-off, boards and all. It's got to be done now or you're gonna risk injuring the kids, the house and everything in it. According to him it'll be a “piece of cake”, take 3 days (tops) and shouldn't be more than two grand. You shake hands and he starts to work. A week later he's still not done. He removed the roof and its been raining like mad. Furniture inside is being destroyed, his helpers are crushing your landscaping and you've gotten three flat tires from all the nails they left laying around. On top of that, you inspect the wood he took off and discover it's not rotten or full of bugs, that it probably just needed new shingles. Frustration is setting in and when asked, he won't even tell you how much it'll eventually cost or when it'll be done. He keeps asking for more time and money for materials. When cornered he says, “it'll be done when I'm finished, I even hired a bunch more kids from down the street to help. Check out how much progress we're making now. It's just this damn rain won't stop”. Eventually you tell him to get the hell off your property and your wife scolds you for hiring him in the first place. You want to just pack up and leave the house out of frustration, but you can't. You've got too much invested in this thing. So it's time to hire a new guy to finish the job. After interviewing dozens of guys, you've shortlisted it down to two. Ones been in the business for a long time, he even tells you about the time he fell off a roof and broke his back. He's got a nice new F150 work truck, ladders and the whole shot (which it turns out his wife bought for him). The other guy, young but professional, went to the best trade school around and showed you some real nice photo's of smaller roofs he's already done. You ask the “old-pro”, whats it gonna take to finish this thing? He says he can't really tell you, could be two weeks, could be two years, it doesn't really matter, but whatever it takes, he'll get the job done. The young guy says, in three weeks from now your roof will done and my crew and I 'll be out of here. The job may not be perfect, but we'll be gone and you can get on with your life.

Being the cautious and optimistic guy I am, guess which one I hired? Let me give you a hint, theres a new truck parked in front of the house and the damn roof still isn't done.

Unfortunately we can't just fire the first loser. Thanks Pelosi.

Xrepublican's picture

Said like a true alcoholic. You can never see over the horizon you nitwit. Someday you'll be at the Hague for crimes against humanity. (or so we all hope) GTH WORST president EVER. GO HOME we are sick of your silly word games and drunk humor. MURDERER

StCyrlyMe2's picture

This bastard knows that Senator Obama is going to be talking to the leadership in Iraq and will be in a great position to come back and confirm that what he has always said is intact what the Iraqi people want and that is for all the US criminals, to get the hell out of their country and leave their dame oil where they found it.

It is stunning to see the ability of a man who has NO experience, make those that so call have it all, look like the idiots they are.

Obama is simply putting all of these ass holes to shame and the good thing about it is, the whole world is watching the demise of this disgusting administration, go up in flames.

There really is a God in Heaven.

StCyrlyMe2's picture

Capt. Bat Hussein Guano @ 113:

Bob Villa @ 112:

Scheduling and timelines are essential for completing any project. To not demand them is a recipe for failure.

Imagine hiring a contractor to re-roof your house after spotting a leak. You call your brother-in law, your sisters husband, who is not the brightest guy. An alcoholic, but sober now for reportedly almost 3 months. He's somewhat the family handyman and lord knows he and your sister need the money, so you call him over for a look. He says you've got rotten wood everywhere, its full of carpenter ants and the thing's ready to cave in. You need a complete tear-off, boards and all. It's got to be done now or you're gonna risk injuring the kids, the house and everything in it. According to him it'll be a “piece of cake”, take 3 days (tops) and shouldn't be more than two grand. You shake hands and he starts to work. A week later he's still not done. He removed the roof and its been raining like mad. Furniture inside is being destroyed, his helpers are crushing your landscaping and you've gotten three flat tires from all the nails they left laying around. On top of that, you inspect the wood he took off and discover it's not rotten or full of bugs, that it probably just needed new shingles. Frustration is setting in and when asked, he won't even tell you how much it'll eventually cost or when it'll be done. He keeps asking for more time and money for materials. When cornered he says, “it'll be done when I'm finished, I even hired a bunch more kids from down the street to help. Check out how much progress we're making now. It's just this damn rain won't stop”. Eventually you tell him to get the hell off your property and your wife scolds you for hiring him in the first place. You want to just pack up and leave the house out of frustration, but you can't. You've got too much invested in this thing. So it's time to hire a new guy to finish the job. After interviewing dozens of guys, you've shortlisted it down to two. Ones been in the business for a long time, he even tells you about the time he fell off a roof and broke his back. He's got a nice new F150 work truck, ladders and the whole shot (which it turns out his wife bought for him). The other guy, young but professional, went to the best trade school around and showed you some real nice photo's of smaller roofs he's already done. You ask the “old-pro”, whats it gonna take to finish this thing? He says he can't really tell you, could be two weeks, could be two years, it doesn't really matter, but whatever it takes, he'll get the job done. The young guy says, in three weeks from now your roof will done and my crew and I 'll be out of here. The job may not be perfect, but we'll be gone and you can get on with your life.

Being the cautious and optimistic guy I am, guess which one I hired? Let me give you a hint, theres a new truck parked in front of the house and the damn roof still isn't done.

Unfortunately we can't just fire the first loser. Thanks Pelosi.

You poor fella

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