Many liberals were underwhelmed by President Obama's speech last night marking the end of combat operations in Iraq. Particularly frustrating, in the opinion of MSNBC's Rachel Maddow, were Obama's warm words for George W. Bush, whose "love of country and commitment to [America's] security" the president praised. The remarks went "beyond restraint," argues Maddow: they were more akin to a free pass. "Anybody in the pro-Iraq War, pro-Bush camp who doesn't feel like they've been given the greatest political present they never deserved," Maddow concludes, "was probably not listening to this speech." 

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Ray Gustini