Politico's Allen on Clinton speech: "[Y]ou think President Bush doesn't want to be out of [Iraq by 2009]? Hull-oh."

On the February 5 edition of CNN Headline News' Glenn Beck, Mike Allen, chief political writer for The Politico, discussed a February 2 speech by Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) at the Democratic National Committee's winter meeting in which she vowed to "end this war" in Iraq if she becomes president in 2009. Allen said: "But what's fascinating about Senator Clinton's position is, you think President Bush doesn't want to be out of there? Hull-oh. Who still wants to be in Iraq in 2009? It's not like they're choosing it." Contrary to Allen's claim that Bush is not "choosing" to be in Iraq in 2009, Bush himself has made it clear that he regards U.S. policy in Iraq to be his decision, referring to himself as "the decider" and "the decision-maker." And Bush has said that the U.S. will remain in Iraq "so long as [he's] the president." Bush's term ends January 20, 2009.

Allen's statement recalled National Public Radio national correspondent Mara Liasson's assertion that personnel shifts in the Bush administration showed that Bush is "trying to take control of his Iraq policy, and he's going to put his own imprint on it."

Contrary to Allen's claim that the administration is not "choosing " to be in Iraq in 2009, Bush as recently as January 26 referred to himself as "the decision-maker" on matters involving Iraq. Moreover, during an August 21, 2006, press conference, Bush was asked if it was time for a "new strategy" in Iraq. Bush responded: "We're not leaving, so long as I'm the president." Bush's answer, in part:

The strategy is to help the Iraqi people achieve their objectives and their dreams, which is a democratic society. That's the strategy. The tactics -- now, either you say, yes, it's important we stay there and get it done, or we leave. We're not leaving, so long as I'm the president. That would be a huge mistake. It would send an unbelievably terrible signal to reformers across the region. It would say we've abandoned our desire to change the conditions that create terror. It would give the terrorists a safe haven from which to launch attacks. It would embolden Iran. It would embolden extremists.

No, we're not leaving.

Members of Bush's own party have balked at his definitive calls for a long-term commitment in Iraq. On January 30, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) said Bush is not the "sole decider."

At the end of the discussion, host Glenn Beck referred to former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R), who announced plans to file a "statement of candidacy" for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, as "the candidate for war." Allen answered that "[t]here's no question" that Giuliani is "the candidate for strength." As Media Matters for America has repeatedly noted, the media continue to perpetuate the notion that Giuliani is "America's Mayor" and the "hero of 9/11."

From the February 5 edition of CNN Headline News' Glenn Beck:

BECK: Joining me now is Mike Allen, he's chief political correspondent for The Politico.

Mike, what is -- what is her position here on the war? Is Hillary for it or against it?

ALLEN: Well, you can be all over the map. You can be both, Glenn. I think what Senator Clinton is trying to do is reassure people in her party that she may have been for it, but now she's against it.

BECK: Did she see the last election? That really didn't work.

ALLEN: Well, but Glenn, look at the news. Look at what's on your air. It's clear that the American people, public opinion has changed dramatically because the facts have changed dramatically.

But what's fascinating about Senator Clinton's position is, you think President Bush doesn't want to be out of there? Hull-oh. Who still wants to be in Iraq in 2009? It's not like they're choosing it.

What Senator Clinton has not done is say how exactly she would do this. But she's made it clear where her heart is. And Glenn, let's be fair. That's very, very, very important in this contest.

The Associated Press just did a very interesting story, combining their forces from Iowa and New Hampshire, talking about how Iraq is the No. 1 issue. And I can tell you, there's not a lot of call for more troops after the surge, a post-surge surge.

[...]

BECK: I've got to tell you, if you pulled the troops out, just put them on an aircraft carrier in the Gulf because they will be going back in.

You know, it's really funny because Hillary is positioning herself, really, I think, as a peace candidate. And the Democrats, they did this in '72. Very bad idea. They're positioning themselves as a peace candidate. They'll have trouble if there's war, which there's going to be.

On the flip side, you have Rudy Giuliani. If there's peace, conservatives are not going to swallow him. But I'll tell you, he'll be the candidate for war. He's in a much better position, and he's announced today that he is going to run.

ALLEN: Right, Glenn. You don't want to be the candidate for war, but you do want to be the candidate for strength. There's no question that Mayor Giuliani is that.