And honestly, I can’t believe you would defend Kucinich’s comments. Do you even know what the ‘waters’ edge’ rule means? It means that governement officials have always operated under an understood protocol whereby they DID NOT criticize policy when they were overseas or speaking to an audience abroad. To somehow imply that because Kucinich didn’t call Bush a monkey it’s all OK is absurd. His comments were the most outrageous attack on US policy that I’ve heard, and to say it to Syrian leaders is unconscienable.

And my point about the whining is this: for all of the problems and faults of the Iraqi Congress, you have to admit that these people are working under impossible pressures. It’s ridiculous and childish for Emmanuel to compare their working conditions to his own; the Iraqis are working in a war zone, trying to politically unite factions that all want to literally kill each other. To try to somehow say that the US Congress’ inability to pass legislation because the mean Republicans use their minority powers well and then Bush sometimes threatens the veto pen is well, just a bit over the top.

Summary: Bush’s comment can easily be seen as more of a favorable comparison of the Iraqi Congress to ours (showing that they are not complete failures because they’ve passed a good bit of legislation) rather than a diss on US Congress.

A US Congressman being extremely offended at the comparison is quite undiplomatic, and comparing the situations under which each group has to operate clearly shows why the Iraqi’s have the harder row to hoe.

Emmanuel also has quite some nerve invoking the waters’ edge principle after comments made by his fellow Democrats.

And given that the Iraqi parliament doesn’t show up a majority of the time, and that a third decided to walk out permanently,I question how dedicated they are to representing the people of Iraq. It is insulting and divisive, just as Bush meant it.

Yes, the Iraqi Congress has huge difficulties, but it’s a bit absurd for Emmanuel to whine about Bush obstructing his Congress’ progress when the Iraqis have slightly more pressing problems to deal with. And regardless of what we, as ordinary US citizens think of the Iraqi Congress, they are the elected representatives of Iraq and I hardly think that it’s appropriate for our Congress to act as though it’s a huge insult to even consider a comparison with them.

Source: Jerusalem Post

What disparaging words did she say to the Syrians about Dubya?

Delete the words ‘very mild’ and I would agree.
To compare Congress to Iraq’s Parliament is not mild, it’s toxic.

It is absurd, though, because neitherPelosi nor any traveling Democrat that I know of has spent his time OVERSEAS to make disparaging remards about Bush

It is absurd because Bush’s position as President is unique. He represents the nation (that is what he SHOULD .be doing, but isn’t),, not just his party or personahood. With the highest power comes the highest responsibility. No Congressperson and no party operative has that level of impact and import when he speaks.

It is absurd precisely because ti leads to this kind of ‘but the Democrats…’ apologia. Johnny made me do it. At least Monica’s dress has not been resurrected yet in this context.

More importantly, it is destructive. National unity, especially in a time of wa. is a top priority. Repeated remarks of this nature trample hopes for unity into the mud. If a president deliberaely set out to destroy national unity, he would emulate Bush’s approach to a tee. Destoy national unity, and you’re endangering national interests of the highest order.

Since it is so easy on Google, perhaps you can come up with an exact quote that makes your point – I can’t.

And I totally disagree that his comment about Congress was a mild one- it was partisan beyond belief. Emmanuel’s response was the appropriate one.

If Congress hasn’t passed a lot of legislation, it is only due to Republican obstructionism- with record numbers of filibusters, and to Bush’s own veto pen. He has made only token attempts to work with Democrats on many major issues. Is it possible that he hopes that his dismal record of second term achievements can be foisted onto the Dems?

Comparing this Congress to Iraq’s, which is a model of dysfunction and which saw a third of its members walk out in disgust with Maliki’s government is an undeserved insult.

It’s absurd to compare this very mild comment with anything the Dems have done to undermine Bush’s image abroad (not that Bush doesn’t deserve a lot of the ‘credit’ for that as well). The Dems completely abandoned the waters’ edge rule a long, long time ago. And all Bush did here was make a point about the amount of legislation passed by the Iraqi Congress- he was rebutting the criticism of them by comparing their legislative record to the US Congress, and noting that their achievements at least in volume compare favorably. And that’s supposed to be some kind of over the top, divisive remark? Come on, grow up.

If there is a comment that will strengthen Iran’s resolve against us, he will mak it.

If there are wprds that will rub salt in the nations’s wornd of division, he will speak them.

That’s the legacy he’s leaving for us to duffer through.

“It has long been the custom that members of Congress do not go overseas and criticize the president — that partisanship ends at the water’s edge. But reading today’s accounts of the President’s remarks in Australia, it is clear he has a different view.”

Emanuel clearly believes that no one in the United States has a memory or access to Google.

The Democrats under Bush have been the first party since Truman to significantly trash this “water’s edge” principle…dumping on the President while overseas at every opportunity.

Does no one remember Pelosi’s Middle East excursion a few months back…and the initiation of what Rep. Lantos declared was an “alternative Democratic foreign policy”? (After being widely criticized, the Democrats backed off this one within days).

Bush has been a polarizer…no doubt there. But for a Democrat to denounce Bush’s violation of the “water’s edge” principle? Unbelievable. People who live in glass houses really should not throw stones.

Clearly, Emanuel is revealing his low opinion of the American electorate’s memory and sophistication.

Michael van der Galiën reports from Europe on the terror arrests made yesterday in Germany….