Lieberman has been doing the rounds making his Republican fundraisers proud defending President Bush’s plan. Watch this clip of him on MTP today and see how many untruths you can count in Lieberman’s little speech.

I’ve refrained from commenting on Bush’s fabulous speech. For one thing, the rest of the world seems to be doing a really good job shredding the plan apart. For another, the plan isn’t worth commenting on. I obviously think it’s asinine. Most defenders of the plan cite the non-surge provisions of the plan, focusing on oil revenue sharing, the re-prioritization of aid, and similar items. They do all sound good, but it seems like none of them require additional troops going into Iraq. As Sen. Hagel said in the clip above, redeployment would allow us to deal with different threats without bringing in additional troops, especially when our Generals are opposed to the plan.

There were reports that the White House insisted on a surge component to the plan because the ISG specifically didn’t recommend it. I guess this is supposed to show how the President was incorporating a wider set of suggestions or something. Atrios calls it childish. I simply see the President putting politics above all else.

There’s an irony here with Sen. Joe Lieberman defending Bush after his, “let the voters decide”, “it’s not about politics but people” campaign that he’s aligned himself with an administration that puts politics above everything else. Even now, as we’re facing a moment where the wrong choices could have dire consequences, politics are shaping policy. Doing the right thing is only good when the right thing keeps the President politically strong. This, even though he doesn’t face reelection. It seems fitting that Joe Lieberman is the only member of Congress mentioned by name in the speech (2008 foreshadowing? you tell me).

Of course, there’s something to Atrios’s “children” comment. Bush has never had to earn anything on his own, he’s never had to own up to business failures, and he’s generally had things handed to him. He’s so like the archetype of the spoiled, rich prince that it’s almost hard to believe it’s true. He, unfortunately, can’t run from this and I suspect it’s a hard lesson for him to learn. He will be judged harshly by history, and he will have to deal with it.