Bush to Throw Rumsfeld Under the Bus

Tonight President Bush may finally give the Dems and the press the apology they so long have craved, and in the process will throw former Defense Secretary Don Rumsfeld under the bus as he basically calls the Rumsfeld strategy in Iraq a mistake:

WASHINGTON — President George W. Bush will tell the nation Wednesday night he will send more than 20,000 additional American forces to Iraq, acknowledging that it had been a mistake earlier not to have more American and Iraqi troops fighting the war, a senior administration official said.

Seeking support for a retooled strategy to win support for the unpopular war, the president also will acknowledge that the rules of engagement were flawed, White House counselor Dan Bartlett said.

The Dems haven't even heard the speech yet, but are already denouncing it:

Even before Bush's speaks, Democrats were laying plans to register their opposition to the troop buildup. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi pledged to hold a vote on the increase, trying to isolate Bush on his handling of the war. In the Senate, Democrat Edward M. Kennedy has sponsored legislation to require Bush to get congressional approval before sending more troops to Iraq.

Kennedy's legislation probably won't pass the Senate, but even if it does I have to believe it will be quickly vetoed. Even if Bush allowed it to stand it would never pass constitutional scrutiny. Though the Dems control Congress, the president is still commander-in-chief and can order troops wherever he wants to, with or without the approval of Teddy Kennedy.

Any apology from Bush would be a mistake. The Dems are slobbering over the possibility that Bush might admit something that could be used as grounds for impeachment, and although San Fran Nan said impeachment is off the table, she could easily use a speech like this as an excuse to change her mind. I predict the president and the country will regret this speech.