Is The White House Finally Fighting Back?

I don't know. Maybe, but it is undeniable that there is suddenly a flurry of words coming from Pennsylvania Ave. Karl Rove provided a "stand up and cheer" moment earlier this week, when he accurately chracterized the liberal response to 9/11. Now, Cheney is responding to the Downing Street Memo, by pointing out a simple fact. The proposed "timeline" for the war, as stated in the memo, simply doesn't jibe with the reality.

"And remember what happened after the supposed memo was written. We went to the United Nations. We got a unanimous vote out of the Security Council for a resolution calling on Saddam Hussein to come clean and comply with the UN Security Council resolution. We did everything we could to resolve this without having to use military force. We gave him one last chance even, and asked him to step down before we launched military operations.

"The memo is just wrong. In fact, the president of the United States took advantage of every possibility to try to resolve this without having to use military force. It wasn't possible in this case. I am convinced we did absolutely the right thing. I am convinced that history will bear that out."

It is doubtful that his statement will placate anybody on the left, who no doubt will stammer and sputter a response like "but...but...you were going to go in sooner. The memo says so."

Scott McCellan and Co. are also on the offensive, defending Rove against the absolutely ridiculous request from Democrats that he apologize and/or resign; purely fabricated outrage, by the way, intended to minimize the Durbin offense.

White House press secretary Scott McClellan said there was no reason for Rove to apologize because he was "simply pointing out the different philosophies when it comes to winning the war on terrorism."

Mehlman is getting in on the action too.

"I think what Karl Rove said is accurate and reflects a big difference between the two parties," added Republican Party Chairman Ken Mehlman.

"I think they (Democrats) have a pre-9/11 world view and I think that's one of the biggest reasons President Bush was re-elected because the American people understood they wanted a president and a philosophy that took on the terrorists abroad to keep us safer at home and guide our ways," he said.

I continue to be mystified as to the objection to Rove's comments. The dove's on the left seem increasingly tolerant of any speech, no matter how absurd, except that which refers to them as "doves."

If these statements signal a more pro-active approach from the White House it is very much welcome and long overdue. Let's hope it is the beginning of a trend.