Bush In Cleveland Last Summer: Gen. Musharraf Is My Buddy

CLEVELAND (TDB) -- There is a long exchange between President Bush and a Pakistani he encountered in Ohio that is posted today on the Web site of the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad. Bush got a question from the Pakistani at the Cleveland Inter-Continental during a whirlwind visit four months ago and said of Gen. Pervez Musharraf, "I like him."

That line is haunting, and may become the seminal statement in a foreign policy disaster. It was uttered before the strongman declared martial law, before Musharraf began to jail political opponents, fired the Supreme Court justices and dissolved democratic institutions by declaring a state of emergency Sunday. Today, Bush is urging his pal Gen. Musharraf to take off the military uniform and restore freedoms. Is it real? Or wink, wink, nudge, nudge.

Meanwhile, in Pakistan there are clashes and protests in the streets, and it now appears that the American president got in bed with an Islamic militarist with dictatorial inclinations. A tough spot for Bush, who sent U.S. troops to topple Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq -- an invasion that was supposed to bring democracy to an Islamic nation.

From the Embassy's portal, here's a bit of what Bush said July 10 in downtown Cleveland about his pal, Gen. Musharraf:

''Pakistan, by the way is a -- Musharraf is a strong ally in the war against these extremists. I like him and I appreciate him. I'm, of course, constantly working with him to make sure that democracy continues to advance in Pakistan. He's been a valuable ally in rejecting extremists. And that's important, to cultivate those allies.

"See, again, I repeat to you -- and this is hard to some Americans to understand -- we are at the beginning of a major ideological struggle that will affect the security of the United States. And it's a struggle between moderation and extremists. It's a struggle between radicals who kill and rational people who want to live in peace."

So Musharraf is a strong ally against those extremists? He now looks like a tinhorn despot. The word banana republic comes to mind. But Pakistan isn't in Central America. There is a certain Woody Allen Bananas sense to the reports that Bush wants Condi Rice to call Musharraf and tell him to ditch the uniform. After all, as Bush said in Cleveland, "I like him."

Make you wonder, who doesn't he like?

Fresh Poll Results: Bush 31%, UFOs and Ghosts 34%, Witches 19%

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Thanks to a poll by The Associated Press and Ipsos we now know that Americans who believe in flying saucers and ghosts outnumber those who think President George W. Bush is doing a good job. Spooky, isn't it? The details are here. Still, there is some good news for Vice President Dick Cheney -- only 19% accept the idea of spells and witchcraft.

Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, OH-10, is reported to have seen a UFO while smelling the roses in Shirley MacLaine's yard. But the Cleveland Democrat's presidential campaign is running at about 1 percent in the national polls, so he's trailing both Bush and E.T.'s buddies. Maybe it's time for Kucinich to fold and call home . . .

President Bush Is Right: Iraq War Does Have A Parallel To Vietnam Conflict

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- In a speech to the VFW's national convention, the president used the Iraq War as a historical analogy to Vietnam. He's gotten a lot of criticism. The Bellwether believes Bush's analogy stands. But not for the reasons he offered.

As a leader, he won great plaudits and popular acclaim for invading Iraq. He sold the war with guile and tact, no great accomplishment. Did he ask himself: If war is evil, why is this one somehow good? He needed strategic brilliance, and fell short of the elements of military command. He used immoderate phrases at a time when the dying had not yet really begun and most of the battles had yet to be fought. He did not grasp the stresses of a modern war and was smugly secure in his misplaced certainty. He did not seem to have concern for those who marched away and were marked for death or injury. He seemed prepared for adventure and glory, not suffering. And now he leads a nation sharing a particularly deep sense of loss and frustration. In essence, we are in another war for peace. Just like Vietnam. Those of us who see that bear the regret.

Sen. John Kerry On 2004: 'Knocked On My Ass In Defeat'

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Sen. John Kerry did a q-and-a with Coping, a magazine for cancer survivors, and the 2004 Democratic presidential candidate said he was floored by his loss to President George W. Bush. Kerry beat prostate cancer, and said picking himself up after the presidential loss was his toughest challenge since being diagnosed. The cancer was discovered while he was seeking the nomination.

"You know, there are a lot of challenges at my age. You lose friends and family to illness and death. And, in my case, I lost a pretty close election. The learning gained from getting knocked on my ass in defeat is not my favorite way to gain insight and knowledge, but it is an event that sticks with you, I'll tell you that much. I was forced to confront my shortcomings, figure what I did wrong, listen, and in defeat I also was reminded what really mattered to me."

Kerry said his father was lost to prostate cancer, and that African-American men are 80% more likely to die of prostate cancer than white men. He said his daughter, Vanessa, is in her final year of medical school.

Kerry said he was an advocate in the war against cancer, just like he became an advocate for ending the Vietnam War.

"Thirty-five years ago, I used those extra days to stop that war. I realized I had a responsibility to stop others from getting killed. I have extra days after cancer as well, and I use my anger about the disease to do what I do: be an advocate, keep fighting."

MoveOn Ad Rips Sen. McCain: Bush Is His Patsy

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- MoveOn.org is trying to raise money for an independent attack ad that pillories Republican Sen. John McCain as the architect behind White House plans to send more troops to Iraq. In a fundraising e-mail, MoveOn said it wants to get the ad broadcast in Iowa and New Hampshire, early key presidential states, and on national CNN. MoveOn calls McCain ''the darling of the media" and contends his maverick status gives cover to neo-cons intent on escalating the war.

"Our goal is to show that there will be a real political cost to John McCain and to anyone else who promotes such a reckless move," the e-letter from MoveOn's Tom Mattie says. ''Once the pundits see that John McCain is losing support, and that McCain doesn't need to be treated with kid gloves, other politicians will flee from this incredibly unpopular position."

A link to the ad on YouTube is HERE. MoveOn has a lot of information about its history and involvement in the progressive political movement HERE.

McCain -- a former prisoner of war in Vietnam -- has called for at least 30,000 more troops. He ran against Bush in the 2000 GOP presidential primaries, but was crushed by Karl Rove's tactics and a whisper campaign that portrayed him as mentally shaky and etc.