Thursday, April 10, 2008

Dana Milbank Punctures the GOP Spin

McCain Media Mancrush Watch

Dana Milbank gives us reason to believe in journalists. We've seen how Senator McCain turned these proceedings into a campaign event that tried to make him appear to be the voice of reason against the supposedly shrill Democrats who did nothing but attack General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker. Milbank expertly deflates the widespread notion that the Petraeus/Crocker hearings were a Democrat-led bashfest, handing back to the media their spin that Republicans like McCain were there to be statesmen.

"The people of the United States have paid an awful price," thundered Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. "It's time for the Iraqis to pay that price for their own protection."

"I still have a hard time seeing the big picture and what constitutes success," complained Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.). "That's not just one side of the aisle with those kind of concerns. Many on this side of the aisle have that as well."

Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.) demanded an explanation for President Bush's unmet promise that the Iraqi government would take over security for all provinces. "Of course, that has not happened," Tancredo complained. "I'm just wondering whether, General Petraeus, you have any idea of why he made that statement?"

By the end of the day, the general and his sidekick, Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker, had become accomplished in the art of gulping.


Gee, it sounds like a few Republicans decided to wear their oversight and compliance hats again.

The rest of the media would have you believe it was all Democrats, attacking a patriotic hero who was winning the war all by himself with his Iron Maiden-loving sidekick, Ambassador Crocker, he of the Crocker-mania that springs up every time he gets caught having to answer a question about whether or not the al Qaeda in Pakistan is more bad-assed than the one in Iraq.

Yes, THAT Iron Maiden. The one your teenage son worshipped in 1986.

Anyway, Milbank shows us how it's done. And if you click the link, you'll see that the DC Madam is having a pretty bad week. It seems like her working girls aren't going to roll over and try to claim they were being paid $300 an hour to "act."

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