Bush Throws Mitch McConnell Under the Bus

(Rachel Maddow explains why Mitch McConnell is a giant hypocrite.)

Mitch McConnell is the Republican leader in the United States senate. He also looks exactly like a turtle. I know he can't help how he looks, but can you really trust someone who looks like a turtle? I think not.

Now, I haven't found many opportunities to thank George W. Bush for something he did - but in this case I tip my hat to the man for exposing the rank hypocrisy of this man-turtle named McConnell. Of course, Bush had his own selfish reasons for throwing McConnell under the bus - it was a transparent attempt to make himself look like the good guy - but still, by telling the world of this brazen bit of hypocrisy, he's actually done us a favor, I suppose.

You can watch the video above for all the particulars - Rachel Maddow does her usual superb job of explaining the story. But the bottom line is that back in 2006, McConnell wanted Bush to bring home some of the troops from Iraq as a way to benefit Republicans in the election - while at the same time excoriating Democrats and calling them nasty names for pushing for the exact same withdrawal. Of course, Democrats were advocating the withdrawal on policy grounds, arguing that it was the best policy for the national security. McConnell was advocating withdrawal for political reasons, to help the Republicans in the election - national security be damned. To him, our soldiers were just pawns in his sleazy little chess game.

For me, the whole sordid tale just reinforces the fact that the Iraq war was nothing but a giant sham, orchestrated by politicians for their own benefit. It was (and is) a national tragedy that could have, should have, been prevented and which, despite the sacrifice of American lives and treasure (not to mention the 100,000 dead Iraqis), has left us virtually nothing to show for it. So I'd like to retract my earlier "thank you" to the former president. Thanks for nothing, George W. Bush.