The emperor visits the Roman Senate

So, Commander Codpiece deigned to visit Republican lawmakers today. He did not take questions, though, no give and take even with his own party.

He gave a 30 minute speech. Under a banner that proclaimed, "Mission Getting Ugly," the Post report did not say.

Josuah Marshall notes the condescension Bush showed to the inhabitants of the cradle of civilization, saying it was time to "take the training wheels off" the fledgling democracy.

But the condescension he showed to his GOP colleagues is just as obvious. And they lap it up.

Some in Congress, including Republicans, have criticized the Bush administration for not keeping Congress abreast of the cost of the Iraq war and reconstruction, the abuse of Iraqi detainees and the transfer of power.
But Allen said there was no dissent in the room.

"None that I heard," Allen said. Bush was interrupted by applause "probably dozens of times, and several standing ovations," he said.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., flashed two thumbs up as he left. "It was a pep talk for Republicans," he said. "He laid out a pretty strong case for staying the course in Iraq."

McCain said the president did not mention in any detail the prison abuse scandal in Iraq, nor did he take questions on that or any other topic. "Nothing you haven't heard before," McCain said.

Wonderful.