In other news, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker warned the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association today that immigrants are not simply taking our jobs. Some may have "other motives" he said.
That's conveniently vague. What could he mean?
Meanwhile, President Obama has responded to Republican historians who say he is to blame for the consequences of the Iraq war.
"I’m very clear on the lessons of Iraq. I think it was a mistake for us to go in in the first place, despite the incredible efforts that were made by our men and women in uniform," Obama responded. "Despite that error, those sacrifices allowed the Iraqis to take back their country. That opportunity was squandered by Prime Minister Maliki and the unwillingness to reach out effectively to the Sunni and Kurdish populations."
"I know that there are some in Republican quarters who have suggested that I’ve overlearned the mistake of Iraq, and that, in fact, just because the 2003 invasion did not go well doesn’t argue that we shouldn’t go back in," Obama said. "And one lesson that I think is important to draw from what happened is that if the Iraqis themselves are not willing or capable to arrive at the political accommodations necessary to govern, if they are not willing to fight for the security of their country, we cannot do that for them. We can be effective allies."
"But we can’t do it for them, and one of the central flaws I think of the decision back in 2003 was the sense that if we simply went in and deposed a dictator, or simply went in and cleared out the bad guys, that somehow peace and prosperity would automatically emerge, and that lesson we should have learned a long time ago," he told The Atlantic.
We'll be greeted as liberators. Or maybe not.
Programming note... I'm taking an extra day off tomorrow because I'm mentally exhausted and need to breathe. Mad Max and a beer should do the trick. Enjoy the long weekend and, if there are any veterans reading this, thank you for your service. There's at least one party in this country that does not believe your service should be callously taken for granted.