Pootie-Poot Comes Home to Roost

"Saakashvili has embraced this tried-and-true strategy with gusto, sending a substantial share of the country's small army to Iraq (from which its troops were understandably recalled in recent days) and parroting Bush administration talking points on international issues -- especially on promoting democracy -- more than almost any other leader worldwide. . . .

"Saakashvili's recent statements demonstrate how well he has learned to push America's buttons, probably with the help of his government's lobbyists in Washington. In several interviews and articles, including an op-ed in yesterday's Post, he has compared the recent Russian attack on Georgia to the Soviet invasions of Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Afghanistan. . . .

"But the situation inside Georgia belies Saakashvili's rhetorical commitment to freedom. Most glaring was his handling of opposition protests last fall. The State Department's 2007 Human Rights Report, released just a few months ago, found 'serious problems' with Georgia's human rights record and notes 'excessive use of force to disperse demonstrations'; 'impunity of police officers'; and declining respect for freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly and political participation."

And from the right, Andrew C. McCarthy writes for the National Review: "It was a relief to see President Bush take some meaningful action in response to Russia's aggression against Georgia on Wednesday -- something beyond looking sternly into Vladimir Putin's soul between beach volleyball serves in Beijing. Thursday's announcement that U.S. missile batteries will be installed in Poland is also welcome. More telling, though, is the step the president hasn't taken: a necessary step, but one tantamount to a concession that the administration's Iran policy has been a farce.

"The president must withdraw the U.S.-Russia civil-nuclear cooperation agreement, submitted in all its naïveté to an appropriately hostile Congress back in May. . . .

"For here is the problem: Putin, for whom 'strategic partner' is just a side-line from his full-time gig as Capo di Tutti Commie, has all the while been arming and protecting our most determined enemies."

Stonewall Watch

I wrote in my August 8 column, Foot-Dragging to the Finish, about the White House's continued refusal to comply with congressional subpoenas -- despite a federal judge's ruling against its claim that presidential aides are immune from oversight.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy sent a furious letter to White House Counsel Fred Fielding yesterday.

"Having obstructed our proceedings for more than a year, and having unsuccessfully resisted the House's action in court, it certainly seems that your intention is simply to run out the clock. It is clear to me that this administration has no interest in complying with its lawful duty or showing respect to the rulings of Congress or the courts.

"Despite mounting evidence of significant involvement by White House officials, the White House has still not produced a single document, a list of the materials withheld or the factual basis for any specific claim of executive privilege. When I wrote to the President a year ago following the suggestion of [Republican] Senator [Arlen] Specter to ask the President to sit down with us and work out an accommodation, my offer was flatly rejected. Despite the conclusion of your August 7 letter, which stated that you 'remain available' to explore 'ways to reach an accommodation,' you have made no proposals and taken no steps toward compliance with the Senate Judiciary Committee's subpoenas or with the court's order. Such hollow words are no substitute for action, especially given this administration's unwillingness to engage in good faith accommodations in the past, the interposed months of delay, and your legal position having been repudiated by the court."

Mukasey Watch

The Miami Herald editorial board writes: "When former federal judge Michael Mukasey became attorney general, the hope was that he would act swiftly and energetically to clean up the mess left behind by his predecessor, Alberto Gonzales. His record so far has been disappointing. Mr. Mukasey has been more independent and more scrupulous than the discredited figure he replaced, but the real test is whether he is will hold those who acted wrongly accountable for their actions. This week he sent a strong signal that he is not up to the task."

Fundraiser in Chief

Deb Riechmann writes for the Associated Press: "President Bush's popularity has tanked, but boy can he still bring in the cash. . . .

"In all, Bush has personally raised more than $968 million for the Republican Party, GOP candidates and his own re-election campaign and inauguration during his two terms in office. And he's not finished.

"He's now lost a big part of the national spotlight to presidential contenders John McCain and Barack Obama, but he remains a formidable force on the fundraising circuit, mostly at private affairs closed to the media. His total so far this year is roughly $70 million. . . .

"Out of political expedience, McCain, the Republican presidential candidate, is generally keeping his distance -- at least physically -- from an unpopular incumbent who's burdened with war, soaring fuel prices and a sputtering economy."

Helen Thomas Watch

Steve Gorman writes for Reuters: "As a tireless questioner of authority and a consummate Washington insider, pioneering White House correspondent Helen Thomas has covered nine U.S. presidents over a span of nearly a half century.

"Next week on cable network HBO, Thomas, 88, makes a rare appearance as an interview subject in a documentary produced and directed by filmmaker Rory Kennedy, whose uncle 'Jack' was the first Oval Office occupant Thomas followed as a reporter.

"The 38-minute profile, ' Thank You, Mr. President: Helen Thomas at the White House,' features the journalist reflecting on her life, career, and devotion to the ideal that democracy thrives best when a vigilant press holds leaders accountable.

"'I think that presidents deserve to be questioned, maybe irreverently, most of the time, (to) bring 'em down a size,' the plain-spoken Thomas says of the particular role of the White House press corps."

Joe Strupp writes for Editor and Publisher: "The film takes square aim at Helen Thomas' latest battles with President George W. Bush, opening with a press conference in which Thomas asked Bush why he wanted to go to war. . . .

"Kennedy admits part of the film's effort is to show how Thomas's direct questioning and tireless investigation is being lost in today's White House press, particularly in the run up to the Iraq War.

"'Has the media been asking the hard questions?' Kennedy says. 'I do share her analysis of what happened in the lead-up to the war, the press did not do their job adequately. The press has changed over the past 30 years. Helen has remained true to her craft, despite the shift.'"

And Ken Bazinet blogs for the New York Daily News that Thomas, who has been hospitalized since May for an infection, was back home yesterday and planning to return to work soon.

Bush's Cheerleading

Al Neuharth write in a USA Today opinion piece: "President Bush made a very popular move with his cheerleading at the Olympics in Beijing this past week. . . .

"Sadly, a little-noted blemish for Bush in Beijing is the fact that only four athletes from Iraq are among the 10,708 competing. In 2004, Iraq was represented by 25 athletes.

"The war without end in Iraq that Bush so mistakenly started not only has taken tens of thousands of military and civilian lives and cost hundreds of billions of dollars, but it also has disrupted the development of athletes and other young people there.

"As Bush basks in the afterglow of the smartest international move of his presidency in Beijing, he has just five months to try to do something about his dumbest adventure in Iraq. If he could clear up that mess, the whole world would cheer."

Joel Stein writes in a Los Angeles Times opinion piece: "There are many things George W. Bush should do after his presidency, most of which involve apologizing. But that's not the man's strength. So if he really wants to, as he said, 'give some speeches to replenish the old coffers,' I suggest he stick to what he does best: motivational speaking.

"I've never seen anyone throw pompoms at disaster as well as Bush. Other leaders -- Churchill, FDR, Reagan, JFK, Bruce Springsteen -- expressed how citizens would rise to the challenge of difficult times and either save the world or leave town in a muscle car with a woman. Bush skips all those steps and proclaims that despite all signs to the contrary, everything is awesome right now. Iraq is going great; recovering from 9/11 just required some shopping."

Cartoon Watch

Ann Telnaes on Bush's big talk, Lee Judge on Bush's irony deficit, and Adam Zyglis on the "meddle"-ists; Rex Babin on endangered species; Rob Rogers on the real lip-syncing scandal; Joel Pett on synchronized dives; and Paul Fell on the Bush precedent.