The most influential author of the Constitution, James Madison, wrote in 1793, "In no part of the Constitution is more wisdom to be found than in the clause which confides the question of war or peace to the legislature, and not the executive department. ... The trust and the temptation would be too great for any one man."

"The president wants to win," says Kristol, "and the Pentagon wants to get out." Yes, it's those "cut and run" peaceniks over at the Pentagon, and not the antiwar movement, that has the War Party up in arms.

Somewhere en route, a British Airways pilot thought he spotted an unusual plane from his cockpit.
"Did I just see Air Force One?" the pilot radioed.
Bush said he went up to the cockpit to watch the pilot, Col. Mark Tilman, land at Baghdad's airport.
mred - tell me this whole trip isnt lies lies lies

To everyone's amazement the secrecy held.
mred: imagine.

As the president was cheering up soldiers in a mess hall in Baghdad, newscasters back home were reporting that he was enjoying Thanksgiving dinner with his family at his ranch in Crawford, Texas. That was what reporters had been told by White House officials.
Bush said he thought Americans would be understanding about the deception because it was important for soldiers at risk to know that the commander in chief and the country supported them and appreciated their sacrifices.

mred: "thought Americans would be understanding about the deception " indeed.

It began in mid-October when chief of staff Andy Card asked Bush whether he would be interested in going to Baghdad for the holiday.
"Yes, I would," Bush replied. "Except I don't want to go if it puts anyone in harm's way.
mred - benevolent whore

Other Secret Service agents left at the ranch were not told the president had departed. Rice and the president wore ball caps; Bush said he pulled his low on his face and slouched down in his seat to avoid being recognized by an airfield guard.
mred - sounds like judith millers informant

"We looked like a normal couple," Bush said of himself and Rice.
mred - history will hopefully tell if she is blowing u

""We looked like a normal couple," Bush said of himself and Rice."

i think i mentioned b4 that there might be something sexual going on somewhere. i wonder if this statement will look more telling at some futchya point in time.

and weve got the 'ball caps' - im not sure if thats a judith miller reference.

methinkx that either this trip was a hoax, or at worst, so scripted that its exactly the same thing.