“Have to agree that both parties would probably benefit from losing this one. Maybe we could install some sort of regent or administrator to run things for 4 years and they try again in 2008? Ok, probably not a good idea.
Kerry gets elected – Iraq slides from chaos to disaster to catastrophe. There’s very little Kerry can do but find some way to declare victory and get out. What’s left of Iraq becomes a vassal/client state of Iran, except perhaps for Kurdistan. The infinitely superior republican spin machine manages to stick Kerry with this stinkburger. After a mediocre 4 years, John McCain wins in 2008. The man who should have won in 2000.
Bush gets elected – Iraq slides from chaos to disaster to catastrophe. There’s very little Bush can do but find some way to declare victory and get out. What’s left of Iraq becomes a vassal/client state of Iran, except perhaps for Kurdistan. They try to stick, I dunno, Tom Daschle with this one but that’s too much of a stretch. The war on terror fizzles out as foreign adventures look much less attractive. Bush sinks well below 50% approval rating as his administration slides into the typical second term lame duck scandal fest. Scandals both venal and serious (Plame, who knows what else) blow up. Republican fatigue grows very noticable. President Hillary Clinton is elected in 2008 and serves two terms. The Senate also goes democratic.” More feedback on the Letters Page, edited by Reihan Salam.
THE RIGHT WAKES UP: Rick Brookhiser, sane as ever, notices the threat to Bush.
The Dish 