Wednesday, May 05, 2004
Eating crow is good for you
Tom Friedman actually has a good op-ed today, in which he argues that Bush needs to fire Rumsfield, go to the UN and Arab leaders, and make a genuine effort to admit we've screwed up and need help. It might work, it might be too late, but is there any better option?
Of course, such gestures wouldn't play well with the UN-hating, strong-leader loving, never say you're sorry Republican base. But could Bush spinners claim that by changing course, he's a "big enough man" to admit when he's made mistakes, and wise enough to adapt to changing situations by listening to the best advice? (I guess that would still wreak havoc with the "call Kerry a flip-flopper" strategy, since it implicitly admits changing your opinion can be a smart thing to do. But since it is, isn't it time Bush did it?)
Update: Lots of people sound off on Bush's non-apology, while the letters to the NYT are full of wrenching sobs for the loss of our country's honor.
Of course, such gestures wouldn't play well with the UN-hating, strong-leader loving, never say you're sorry Republican base. But could Bush spinners claim that by changing course, he's a "big enough man" to admit when he's made mistakes, and wise enough to adapt to changing situations by listening to the best advice? (I guess that would still wreak havoc with the "call Kerry a flip-flopper" strategy, since it implicitly admits changing your opinion can be a smart thing to do. But since it is, isn't it time Bush did it?)
Update: Lots of people sound off on Bush's non-apology, while the letters to the NYT are full of wrenching sobs for the loss of our country's honor.
