Bush confident, is anyone else?

For those students whose brains have not yet switched back on since returning to campus, the president delivered a nationally televised speech on Jan. 10 about his new plan for Iraq.

Staunch Bush supporters have stood by him during his time in office despite some PR hiccups, such as the Weapons of Mass Destruction debacle, but they might find it harder to back him now.

A paradoxical headline for an AP Wire article was posted online after his speech: “Bush takes blame in Iraq, adds troops.” This could be translated into, “Bush says sorry, but not really.”

With the Democrats now in control of Congress, wilting support from the American public and unreliable help from Iraq’s new leadership, Bush’s plan has about as much chance of succeeding as a Texas Hold ’Em player going all-in pre-flop with a 7-2 off-suit.

Bush is confident in his leadership abilities and said as much in a “60 Minutes” interview that aired Sunday night, declaring that he is not concerned about his legacy and that he’s doing what’s best for Americans. Yet, in the eyes of this nation’s citizens, his assuredness is rapidly disappearing and is being replaced by a big ego.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair supported Bush’s plan. In the coming months though, people should be more concerned about what Tony Blair’s successor has to say. Not that it has registered yet on the American public’s radar, but a blip called Gordon Brown is the favorite to take over as head of the Labor Party over in the UK, which in turn will make him the interim prime minister. Blair previously announced that effectively he would be stepping down as prime minister by September 2007, possibly sooner.

Brown, the Treasury Chief under Blair, declared that, unlike Blair, he will not be joined at the hip with Bush. In a BBC Radio show interview that aired Jan. 7, Brown insinuated he would be quick to remove the British military presence in Iraq stating, “I believe it is true to say that by the end of the year, there may be thousands less in Iraq than there are now.”

If Brown’s wishes come true, the U.S. will be unfettered from its biggest ally and it won’t be long until other supporting nations follow suit.

Bush seems to have tunnel vision and cannot see the mess he has created. His hearing works fine, though. It’s time Bush actually listened for once to the people who voted him into office and left Iraq to its own devices.