LIVE BLOGGING: The Iraq Speech

The Blue State will be blogging live during President Bush's Address on Iraq.  Tune into MSNBC, because immediately after John Edwards will give a two-minute address.  We will continue updating this blog entry throughout the speech, every three minutes or so.  (Keep refreshing this page.)

• 9:03: "(Petraeus and Crocker) They concluded that conditions in Iraq have improved."
• 9:05: "Anbar Province is a good example of how our strategy is working."  (Actually, that is not true!  We are not surging in Al Anbar.)
• 9:07: "..the success in Anbar is being replicated in other parts of the country."  (Anbar is a COMPLETELY different situation than in other parts of Iraq.  In Anbar, there is political reconciliation.  In other parts of Iraq, there is not.)
• 9:10: Maybe Bush could remind people that 57% of Iraqis support attacks on US troops.
• 9:13: Bush is really trying to declare victory.  He smirked when announcing that 30,000 US troops will be redeployed from Iraq by next summer.  But that is not an authentic draw-down.  We have run out of troops.  So they have to some down anyway.  Even with 30,000 troops coming home by next summer, that leaves 130,000 left in Iraq until the end of Bush's second term.  Bush even just admitted in the speech that he will pass this mess onto the next leader.  He said that the Iraq war is something "that extends" past "my presidency."
• 9:15: Bush just admitted that we are there for oil.  He said if we leave Iraq, Iran would "control" a vast "energy supply."
• 9:17: "We encourage all nations to help."  Yeah, that's sure going to happen.  They love us!
• 9:17: Bush just began talking about the internets.
• 9:18: Oxymoron of the night!!  "Freedom is not free."
• 9:21: Jack Reed: "President Bush's own advisers tell us" that the surge is not working.
• 9:22: Jack Reed wants to speed up the "rapid redeployment" from Iraq.  An "unlimited presence in Iraq is not an option," Reed added.
• 9:23: Jack Reed completed his speech.  Getting ready for John Edwards' address.
• 9:26: Chris Matthews: "If we're kicking ass, how come we're not getting towards a government that we can defend?"
• 9:27: Great line by Keith Olbermann: "Did we know this was not a date, but a wedding, five years ago?"
• 9:30: Biden is on MSNBC.
• 9:31: Joe Biden: "95% of the problem is a civil war -- Sunnis killing Shia."
• 9:32: Biden: "Who is the government in Iraq?"  Great question!
• 9:33: Biden: "There is no one to sign a treaty with."
• 9:35: Biden: The violence is down from "1,600 a week to 1,000."  Funny!  Bush is cheering the fact that we are down to 1,000 attacks!  Wow.
• 9:37: Mike Huckabee is on!  Good Lord!  He is attacking the so-called Washington "politicians."  As Chris Matthews challenged Huckabee, Isn't Bush a politician too?
• Below is the Edwards Ad:

And so concludes our live blogging of the presidential speech coverage.  The Blue Nightowl Clips will be posted at Midnight Eastern.

Comments

[Robert]

Tell me if I am wrong but MAN if i see Edwards as our JFK or RFK. I really think this guy has it togeather and he sounded a lot more presidental then bush EVER has, and that was only a 30 second time slot. challenge me if you want on this but man i hope he get the nomination. he is someone i can stand behind

[Chief Editor: Todd]

Edwards is definitely the real deal. I'm still undecided. Still not really impressed with Biden or Clinton....but it's still early.

I'd actually say that both Edwards and Obama have a little bit of RFK to them. Edwards has a LOT of Bill Clinton in him, in my view.

[George]

Bush is so in denial. Everything is always getting better. He never even acknowledges that like 3 millions Iraqis have fled their country. He never acknowledges the risks of his plans. As if there are none.

Chris Matthews said it well: if we are staying only because we are scared to leave, that's not a plan.

[MLP]

Damn, I missed the live blogging.
I came by and checked before the speech and didn't see the thread.

As to the speech, GWB out-did himself. There was a record number of lies and distortions in this speech. He said exactly what his base wanted to hear.
I wasn't aware that the US had done much of anything in Anbar, other than give money and arms to the Sunni.