In an interview with GQ correspondent Robert Draper for his book Dead Certain, President Bush described his Iraq strategy as “playing for October-November.” He explained that his hope was to “get us in a position where the presidential candidates will be comfortable about sustaining a presence,” and, he said, “stay longer.”

In an interview with the The Examiner’s Bill Sammon for his book The Evangelical President, Bush goes even further, explaining that he is actively “providing back-channel advice” to the Democratic presidential candidates on Iraq. According to White House chief of staff Josh Bolten, Bush is urging the candidates to remain flexible enough in their rhetoric so that they can maintain a long-term occupation of Iraq:

White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten said Bush has “been urging candidates: ‘Don’t get yourself too locked in where you stand right now. If you end up sitting where I sit, things could change dramatically.’”

Bolten said Bush wants enough continuity in his Iraq policy that “even a Democratic president would be in a position to sustain a legitimate presence there.”

“Especially if it’s a Democrat,” the chief of staff told The Examiner in his West Wing office. “He wants to create the conditions where a Democrat not only will have the leeway, but the obligation to see it out.”

“It’s different being a candidate and being the president,” Bush said in an Oval Office interview. “No matter who the president is, no matter what party, when they sit here in the Oval Office…they will then begin to understand the need to continue to support the young democracy.”

Sammon reports Bush “has been sending advice, mostly through aides,” aimed at convincing candidates not to speak too forcefully about a complete withdrawal from Iraq. “Asked by The Examiner whether the Democrats were reluctant to have private contacts with the administration, the White House official replied: ‘No, I think they sort of welcome conversation.’”

UPDATE: By advising Democrats to pursue a strategy overwhelmingly at odds with public opinion, is Bush trying to show how he can be a “strong asset” for conservative candidates?

Atrios notes the latest Pentagon data on the average daily casualties in Iraq:

Last week, allegations surfaced that State Department Inspector General Howard Krongard had “repeatedly interfered with on-going investigations to protect the State Department and the White House from political embarrassment.” Now, the American Foreign Service Adminstration wants Krongard gone:

The worse-case scenario in corruption is when it endangers lives. The worse-case scenario in public service is when the watchdog becomes the suspected violator. Both of these allegations have been leveled against Mr. Krongard. As long as he maintains day-to-day control, his office’s ability to do its vital job with full credibility will be compromised. He should step down until the allegations are resolved one way or another.

Krongard is one of at least four IGs currently under investigation for “waste, fraud and abuse.”

Number of people worldwide who believe that action on global warming is necessary, according to a new BBC poll. An average of 79 percent in the 21 countries surveyed agreed that “human activity, including industry and transportation, is a significant cause of climate change.”

President Bush has threatened to veto legislation renewing and expanding the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The legislation would extend health coverage to as many as 10 million children — four million of whom are currently uninsured. Bush has claimed the SCHIP bill contains “excessive spending,” but in fact, just 41 days of the war in Iraq would fully pay for the coverage:

Payson Schwin has more.

In court papers filed today, a Minneapolis prosecutor urged the court to deny Sen. Larry Craig’s (R-NV) efforts to escape his guilty plea. Denying Craig’s motion “prevents further politicking and game playing on the part of the defendant in relation to his plea,” the prosecutor wrote. Craig clearly “had hoped that he could plead guilty and that the plea would not be discovered by the media or public,” he wrote. “The defendant’s current pursuit of withdrawal of his guilty plea is reactionary, calculated and political.”

Today, the United Auto Workers union announced they would launch a nationwide-strike, the first in 37 years, against General Motors over job security and benefits, as GM has sought to cut costs. Markos links the strike to GM’s astronomical health care costs, noting that the company spent $5.2 billion on health care in 2005. GM officials have acknowledged the need to address health care costs:

“Failing to address the health care crisis would be the worst kind of procrastination,” [General Motors Corp. chairman and chief executive G. Richard] Wagoner said, “the kind that places our children and our grandchildren at risk and threatens the health and global competitiveness of our nation’s economy.” [...]

“GM is the canary in the coal mine for Medicare and everyone else,” said Sean P. McAlinden, chief economist at the nonprofit Center for Automotive Research. “There are many, many more companies out there in trouble because of health care costs than just the auto, steel and airline industries.”

Kos and Digby suggest that perhaps the strike could “drive the nation closer to universal health care.” More on the strike here.

Earlier today, Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) said in a statement that if Columbia University President Lee Bollinger “follows through with this hosting of the leader of Iran, I will move in Congress to cut off every single type of Federal Funding to Columbia University.”

Introduced as a “petty and cruel dictator” by Bollinger, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad did indeed speak at the Ivy League university, where he outlandishly claimed that there are no gay men or women in Iran.

Appearing on Fox News’ Your World with Neil Cavuto after the speech, Hunter said that he plans to follow through on his threat and will now “initiate legislation, and try to get as many people as can see it my way, to cut off funds to Columbia University.” Watch it:

Hunter is not the only lawmaker looking to punish Columbia and Bollinger for hosting a speaker whom they dislike. The New York Sun reports today that state and city lawmakers in New York are considering punitively withholding public funds from the school as well.

Glenn Greenwald asked:

Is there anyone who fails to see how dangerous and improper this is — not to mention unconstitutional — that government officials threaten and punish universities for hosting speakers whom the officials dislike?

Even President Bush doesn’t think Columbia should be punished for hosting Ahmadinejad, telling Fox News today that “I guess it’s okay with me” and that America is “confident enough to let a person express his views.” Everyone … except a host of right-wingers who cower when faced with the “views” of people they dislike.