Dem Press Release: Democrats Urge the President to Work With Us on Iraq

From the Democrat House Leadership Website

Washington, D.C. – Speaker-designate Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader-elect Steny Hoyer and Democratic Caucus Chair-elect Rahm Emanuel spoke at a press stakeout today following a Democratic Forum on Iraq. Below are Pelosi’s remarks:

"Good morning. During the election the American people spoke out for a New Direction. They said that no place was a New Direction more necessary than in the war on Iraq.

"So it is fitting that today we have come together, including our incoming freshman class, to focus on policy regarding Iraq. We heard from leaders in the field: Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, Dr. Jessica Mathews, Major General John Batiste, Congressmen Ike Skelton, the Chair of the Armed Services Committee, and John Murtha, the Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.

"What we heard today is that there are no easy answers in Iraq. It’s a difficult challenge for our country and it requires our fullest attention and decision-making that is hard-nosed to make a New Direction.

"We predicated some of the conversation in a letter that Senator Reid, myself and others in the leadership sent to the President on October 20. At that time, we reiterated our concern that ‘stay the course’ was not a strategy, but a slogan. We urged the President to work with us in a bipartisan way and we presented four changes to current policy: first, redeployment and transition of our troops out of Iraq; second, disarm the militia; third, have an international conference to discuss with the countries in the region the stability and reconstruction of the region, especially Iraq; and fourth, to amend the constitution to relieve some of the civil strife and to spread some of the political advantages that the elections there promised.

"We have not heard back from the President on that. We still extend the hand of friendship to him in a bipartisan way to make our country safer, to make the region more stable, and to strengthen our military."

BREAKING NEWS:

Bush responds.:)

Dear Ms. Pelosi,

I'm sure you're aware of my history in Texas. I love working with others willing to put partisan differences aside to work for the betterment of the state, or now, the country.

However, I find it troubling that every time I reach out to your side, I always experience severe back pain soon afterwards. My doctor already has a large collection of blades, which he has pulled from the areas of pain. Now, I'm not one for pointing fingers, but I just don't have the slightest clue as to how this might be occuring.

For my own health, I must respectfully decline your offer.

Love,
George W. Bush

Queen Nancy chooses Reyes to head Intellegience committee

From CNN (no link, just a banner on the front page now):

Congressional aides say House Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi has chosen Rep. Silvestre Reyes of Texas to take over as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, The Associated Press reports.

The only question left is "How corrupt is he"?

I'm about to make a new poll.

Nancy Pelosi is not yet Speaker. The new Congress has to convene, and the House of Representatives has to vote on it. Theoretically, the Republicans could get together with some moderate to conservative Dems and make a deal to share power and put whoever they want in the Speaker's chair (unlikely, yes, but a possibility nonetheless). Given Queen Nancy's recent blunders (supporting Murtha and Hastings, along with the talking points blunder), who should be Speaker?

The choices are:
Nancy Pelosi
John Boehner
A conservative Dem
Some other Liberal Dem
Another Republican
Don't know

Queen Nancy mixes talking points, makes @$$ of herself

From Hot Air.

The clip starts with the president blaming sectarian violence in Iraq on al-Qaeda, then it cuts to a reporter asking for Miss America's view on this. She recites a standard Dem talking point that she probably repeats in her sleep each night. The only problem is that this particular talking point should only be recited in response to a Republican mentioning Iraq and 9/11 within 48 hours of each other, otherwise it makes no sense.

Hastings not likely to lead House Intelligence Committee

From The State:

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., will not be the next chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, a Democratic aide confirmed Tuesday as Hastings left a private meeting with Speaker-designate Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

Still unclear was whether Pelosi intends to surprise lawmakers by tapping the panel’s ranking Democrat, Rep. Jane Harman of California, to be chairwoman when Democrats take power in January, or go with another lawmaker altogether. Pelosi and Harman have a tense relationship and have disagreed on the Iraq war. Hastings is considered the panel’s second-ranking Democrat and his candidacy was promoted by the Congressional Black Caucus.

This is the second loss for Queen Nancy. At this rate, I'll be surprised if she's actually elected speaker.