Pres. Bush says of course I believe in the tooth fairy. Don't you? - In Post interview, Bush says election ratified Iraq policy.

Excerpts from article about the President's interview with The Washington Post, 01-16-05:

Bush Says Election Ratified Iraq Policy
No U.S. Troop Withdrawal Date Is Set

President Bush said the public's decision to reelect him was a ratification of his approach toward Iraq and that there was no reason to hold any administration officials accountable for mistakes or misjudgments in prewar planning or managing the violent aftermath.

With the Iraq elections two weeks away and no signs of the deadly insurgency abating, Bush set no timetable for withdrawing U.S. troops and twice declined to endorse Secretary of State Colin L. Powell's recent statement that the number of Americans serving in Iraq could be reduced by year's end. Bush said he will not ask Congress to expand the size of the National Guard or regular Army, as some lawmakers and military experts have proposed.

[A 12-26-04 post reviewed a discussion The Georgia Gang had with Sen. Saxby Chambliss. Although not noted in the post, in that discussion Sen. Chambliss also indicated that the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq may begin as early as the end of 2006. Thus Bush counters both Powell and Chambliss.]

For the first time, Bush said he will not press senators to pass a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, the top priority for many social conservative groups.

While seeking reelection, Bush voiced strong support for such a ban, and many political analysts credit this position for inspiring record turnout among evangelical Christians, who are fighting same-sex marriage at every juncture.

Bush's position is likely to infuriate some of his socially conservative supporters, but congressional officials say it will be impossible to secure the 67 votes needed to pass the amendment in the Senate.

[After the interview hit the press, Bush's handlers immediately began backtracking on his comments, saying, in effect, Bush didn't mean what he said. That is, that Bush would push and lobby for passage of the ban. I saw it Sunday morning. My take --if you don't believe Bush will at least obstensibly lobby the Senate to pass a constitutional amendment outlawing same-sex marriage, you too believe in the tooth fairy.]

Bush acknowledged that the United States' standing has diminished in some parts of the world and said he has asked Condoleezza Rice, his nominee to replace Powell at the State Department, to embark on a public diplomacy campaign that "explains our motives and explains our intentions."

[While your at it Ms. Rice, would you mind explaining it to me.]