Bush Should Resign For Good Of The Party

Ok. I'll be the first to say it: George Bush should resign as president for the good of the Republican Party. Coming off a November election rout the extent of which took the party by surprise, the GOP is searching for new life, new direction, new leadership. The party's chairman and many of its senior leaders, from Delay to Santorum, have been replaced. Talk in Republican circles focuses on a return to core values and a renewed call for less government.

But in fact, the party is evolving and beginning to sound more open minded and ethical. It is now considering alternatives in Iraq, finally facing up the facts on the ground. (Of course, a noted exception in John McCain, who is calling for more troops. At least a debate has begun.) Even Rumsfeld, in a secret memo, is admitting the failure of current policy.

The contrast is Bush, who continues to dodge what the rest of the world knows: that Iraq is in a civil war. As Frank Rich points out this weekend, Bush remains out of touch. He insists Al Qaeda is fueling the fighting when his own generals acknowledge Al Qaeda fighters make up only 2% to 3% of the insurgency. Even Iraqi leaders snub him at high-level meetings abroad.

During the election, Republican candidates ran the other way when Bush came to town. They saw their prospects for office hurt by a simple photo-op with the commander in chief. It is time the Republican Party heed the advice of its own candidates. Jettison Bush, the sooner the better, and rebuild the party with new leadership. The GOP has been led astray and, just like with Iraq, the old leadership won't change direction fast enough. The choice is simple: renew the party with new leadership today or stay the current course.