From WNYC in New York, this is NPR's on the media.

I'm Brooke Gladstone.

And I'm Bob Garfield.

General Petraeus believes we have now reached the point where we can maintain our security gains with fewer American forces.

He has recommended that we have placed on the president Thursday commenting on the congressional appearance of General David Petraeus.

Some likened his testimony this week to that of General William Westmoreland's 40 years ago.

True, both were put in the hot seat to defend a problematic war policy, but really, Petraeus was depicted by the president and the press more as Moses than

Westmoreland.

He is a determined, resourceful, and bold command.

One of the most respected, independent-minded man, a father figure on counterinsurgency.

The general who came in and devised a team of intellectuals to surround him and support him.

Most talented person I've ever met in my life.

Petraeus was now in the front line of the war at home, and like Moses, we like that analogy,

he stood in the shallows ready to part a sea of suspicion. But even before he opened his mouth,

the tide was already rising as advance word of his testimony leaked out.

Today's new ABC News poll shows that he's facing a skeptical country.

...minds that more than half of Americans expect Petraeus to exaggerate progress in Iraq,

and two-thirds say it won't make any difference.

A majority of Americans, a soup going in, it was a cheap sales job.

The powerful online liberal advocacy group Move On fired off a full-page newspaper ad with the general's picture in the words General Petraeus or Betrayus.

Suddenly the ad was the big story.

Is this the gift that keeps on giving for the Republicans?

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