Ehrlich and Steele side with Bush posted by The Stuffed Tiger

Yesterday, Gov. Ehrlich decided to stop hiding behind the "federal" issue of the Iraq war and announced his support of the President's policies, criticized war-critics, and linked the war to September 11th:

"I think the majority of the members of Congress and the majority of the American public understand how wrong it would be to cut and run in Iraq. The polls show that," he said. He added that the public needs to realize that the people who flew the planes into the twin towers in lower Manhattan "are the same people who are shooting at us in Iraq." [...] Ehrlich spokesman Henry Fawell declined to clarify the governor's remarks on who he was referring to when he said the "same people."

The comments, made after a news conference at the closing of a troubled juvenile justice facility in Baltimore County, align the governor more closely with the president's Iraq policies than most other elected officials in Maryland, even his fellow Republicans. I suppose Ehrlich intends to win his election just like Bush is winning in Iraq. What is more puzzling in Steele who, as we've already reported, is hosting a fundraiser tonight with the President to support Steele's bid for Senate. Steele is trying to capitalize on Bush's pull with 33% of the public while simultaneously talking about withdrawal:

Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele, who is scheduled to hold a fundraiser today with Bush after the president's Annapolis speech, has said he wants the administration to begin discussions about bringing the troops home.

The fact that Steele is hosting Bush tonight--just hours after Bush patted himself on the back for all his successes in Iraq--can only send one message: Steele sides with Bush and his undefined withdrawal drivel is simply pandering:

A poll conducted by The Sun this month found that nearly 70 percent of Maryland voters want to start bringing troops home. Among those surveyed, 51 percent said the United States should begin gradually withdrawing, and 18 percent said the military should pull out immediately. A quarter of voters said the United States should maintain or increase its presence there.

Ehrlich and Steele support staying the failed course, ducking accountability, and ignoring military commanders. I don't want either of them in office. ~The Stuffed Tiger