“The situation in Iraq is grave and deteriorating.” That’s how the report starts out, and it just goes downhill from there.

Boy, if I’ve ever heard a big pile of horse squeeze, this was probably the biggest pile ever. Today the Baker & Hamilton Commission publicly presented the contents of the Iraq Study Group to a much bemused press corp, save the LA Times and NY Times reporter. All I heard was fluff and very little substance, and not much difference than what we’ve already been doing, save for calling for the need to negotiate assistance from Syria and Iran.

Once the questioning started, it became more interesting. Major Garrett of Fox News stood up and said that after his brief overview of the report, he said he never noticed the word “victory” not one single time in the report, and asked them if one of their desired outcomes was “victory.” They replied they tried to stay away from such verbage as “stay the course,” “cut and run,” and other buzz-words like “victory.” Oh, really? Victory is a buzz-word? To our alleged consolation, they reminded us they did use the term “success.” Oh, thanks very much for that – I am now consoled. Success for whom? And for what?

Then another reporter got up and asked why the President should listen to a group of folks like them, most of whom who have only been to Iraq once, instead of the generals on the ground? The answer they give will confuse you as it did me. Lots of grandstanding, chest-puffing, and what the hell was that goofy grin on Baker when he was up there? Does he miss the spotlight? Was he enjoying the attention? Was he on ecstasy?

The next reporter reminded them that they said success could be achieved only if the country, both red and blue, could be at a consensus regarding the war on Iraq. Keep dreaming, buddy, because as long as the left-wing kooks control the Democrats, nothing short of immediate withdrawal will be satisfactory.

The ISG then pointed to themselves as an example of how a bi-partisan group could come together and unify this country as a people. Yeah, well, you were 10 people; do you think that’s really going to happen in the American public? You can read the contents of their report here.

McManus of the LA Times asked them how would they be able to basically force President Bush to comply with their recommendations? Someone said that Clinton’s former Chief of Staff, Leon Paneta, might be better suited to answer a question like that (to some laughter).

One that that struck me all the way through was I kept hearing a DNC talking point over and over, and that’s that we neeeded to find a “new way forward.” Hey! I thought this group was supposed to be bi-partisan??? Obviously got their left-side opinions from the kook fringe Kool-Aid drinkers.

Oh, and you’ll find something very interesting on this tape at about 39:08 or 39:10 in. A female reporter stands up to ask a question, yet her mic won’t work, although she tries. You can CLEARLY hear one or two on the panel say “She’s from Fox… she’s from Fox!” Only problem is, she was with the UPI. Why should it matter if she WAS from Fox?

The file is not small, and there are a couple of areas I had to edit out due to technical difficulties from the cable signal. You can watch the presser here.

Jay at Stop the ACLU had total coverage here. Check out Ed Driscoll’s post, too.