Can Bush even take a leak without asking Cheney first?

Apparently not, or barely not, at least, according to Bob Woodward’s latest breathless tree-killer:

In the midst of the surge debate, Bush decided to replace Rumsfeld, who had served as defense secretary throughout the war and had long argued that the United States needed “to take the training wheels off the Iraqi government.” Bush chose Rumsfeld's replacement, Robert M. Gates, without consulting Vice President Cheney, Rumsfeld’s chief patron, the book reports. Bush informed Cheney of his decision on Nov. 6, 2006, the day before the midterm elections. "Well, Mr. President, I disagree," Cheney is quoted as saying, “but obviously it’s your call.”

So, why didn’t Darth Cheney launch the palace coup at that moment.

The book also details the crucial connection from Bush to David Petraeus via former Air Force Chief of Staff Jack Keane.

The biggest item is that it claims much of the decline in violence in Iraq was due to new covert ops, and NOT the “surge.”

I’m sure Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, speaking of taking a piss of one’s free will, is going to love hearing how we’re spying on him 24/7.

That said, re the book itself, this is what my take is:

I think Woodward got punked again, after showing signs in his previous book that his 30-year post-Watergate self-induced coma was finally over.

I mean, per the review, the book sounds OK, but it also sounds like it still has plenty of Woody's fawning breathlessness for BushCo, too.

And, that all said, it's a WaPost in-house review. I'd like to hear what other folks say in terms of reviews.