Bush still insists he's the decider

President Bush, battling with Congress over Iraq, said last Friday that "I'm the decision-maker" about sending more troops to Iraq. Evidently, the president was peeved about criticism about his buildup before it had taken place. "I've picked the plan that I think is most likely to succeed," Bush said in an Oval Office meeting with military advisers.

However, a prominent Republican Senator, Pennsylvania's Arlen Specter (left), has other ideas.

"I would suggest respectfully to the president that he is not the sole decider," said Specter recently during a hearing on Congress' war powers. "The decider is a shared and joint responsibility."

Right on, Arlen. I laughed as I read this - no wonder Bush and his political Rasputin, Karl Rove, supported ultra-conservative Pat Toomey in the 2004 primaries. When Specter edged Toomey, the Bushies had to grit their teeth and support Specter in the general election against Joe Hoeffel. I voted for Hoeffel, but Arlen's not a bad guy - a moderate Republican who's no sheep - he goes his own way, and that irritates Republicans, but delights me.

Anyone remember the "Decider" Speech from April of last year? I do - here is part of the transcript:

Bush: I say I listen to all voices but mine's the final decision and Don Rumsfeld is doing a fine job. He's not only transforming the military, he's fighting a war on terror - He's helping us fight a war on terror. I have strong confidence in Don Rumsfeld. I hear the voices and I read the front page and I know the speculation but I'm the decider and I decide what is best and what's best is for Don Rumsfeld to remain as the Secretary of defense.

Bush's arrogance is costing him credibility within his own party, and all of Congress. I don't vote for Senators and Representatives in the U.S. House to take orders from any president, especially when it comes to deciding the who, what, where, when, why and how of our wars.

I'll have more on this later tonight when I get home, including examples of how Republicans had plenty of questions when Clinton put boots on the ground in the 1990s.