July 15, 2003 - Boston -  First, it was his buddy Newt Gingrich calling President Bush's role in the Iraq war, "six months of diplomatic failure followed by one month of military success now to be returned to diplomatic failure to exploit the victory fully." (as reported by the Washington Post )

This was back on April 22, 2003, right after the war had concluded, when many in the administration still claimed "Mission Accomplished" - in fact, that was the sign that stood behind the President as he spoke onboard the USS Lincoln.  It was a great victory, he claimed, and Iraq would quickly be turned over to a new government of Iraqis and the troops would be home shortly and safely.  Newt thought otherwise, and broke ranks to loudly, publicly say so.

Now, it has gotten worse for the President.  Rand Beers, the 30-year NSC veteran who President Bush chose to oversee the nation's counterterrorism intelligence effort, has quit, and not because he was unhappy with the quality of coffee the White House was providing.

According to the Washington Post, Beers quit because he thinks George Bush has:  1) badly neglected protecting us here in the states against terrorism, not moving on much needed changes and underfunding the domestic efforts; 2) ridiculously shifted focus to Iraq, further hurting the effort against terrorism at home and abroad; 3) not finished the job in Afghanistan, and, in fact, screwed up so badly there that, "Terrorists move around the country with ease. We don't even know what's going on. Osama bin Laden could be almost anywhere in Afghanistan," said Beers in the article.

Sound like something you've heard some of the Democratic candidates say?  John Kerry in particular?

Well, Beers must think so as well, because his "retirement" has turned out not to be a retirement at all.  No, Beers didn't leave the White House to take a break after his 35 years serving 4 presidents.  He left because he felt it was the best way - and only way - to do his job effectively.  To properly battle terrorism, he has determined he needs to get the President out of office and John Kerry in.

Can you imagine the look on Chris Lehane's face when Beers showed up at Kerry for President headquarters asking for a job?

"Knock, knock."  "Who's there?"  "The guy President Bush picked to head counterterrorism intelligence."  "Um, we're closed.  I mean, we're not here.  We gave at the office.  Thanks, come again."  "No, Lehane, I'm here to join up with you guys."  "Say what?"

This is unprecedented, folks.  People resign; it happens.  People get frustrated, tired, etc., and leave their posts.  But never has such a high level official left office and immediately joined up with a campaign that aims to oust the people currently running things.

So let's keep score.  So far, the top counterterrorism advisor has assailed Bush as such a disaster he had not just to jump ship, but board another one - one captained by former Navy Commander John Kerry.  One of the people the President hand-picked to "rethink" the military, Newt Gingrich, has assailed his policies a complete "failure of state."

So tell me, why is it that the press has still - unanimously - dubbed Operation Iraqi Freedom a great success and a strong point for President Bush?  Why does the the entire media, and much of the nation, see the President's handling of the War on Terror as his "strong point"?  So strong, they say, that it overrides his horrible handling of the economy in people's minds and the polls.

The Democratic presidential hopefuls are saying otherwise.  Many Americans have been saying otherwise.  And now, Bush insiders at the highest level are not just saying otherwise, they are putting their whole careers at stake because they are desperate to get an administration into the White House that can handle the terrorism threat and world affairs competently.

We at The Moderate Independent think the mainstream press, given the increasing evidence this last high-level defection brings, must begin to publicly examine and question whether or not Operation Iraqi Freedom was a success, if the War on Terror is actually a strong point for the President, and why the press is so unanimously on the same, wrong page, with not one major news source taking the position that the war was a failure, Bush's handling of the War on Terror and foreign affairs are a disaster, and, even if the economy were perfect, getting Bush out of office and a competent person in might be a useful thing.

Hey, we didn't say it - Bush's own people said it.  This is what the Bush insiders are saying.  It's time the press starts listening (you hear that Rupert?)