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| House Democrats Afraid To Meet With Petraeus |
| 2007-04-18 |
| H/T: Rich Lowery - The Corner (from Roll Call) The top military commander in Iraq will make a rare visit to Capitol Hill next week but House Democratic leaders — unlike their Senate counterparts — initially declined the Defense Department’s offer of a Members-only closed-door briefing with Army Gen. David Petraeus, according to Congressional and administration sources. A spokesman for Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) at first acknowledged Tuesday that the Pentagon’s request to have Petraeus give a House briefing had been denied due to "scheduling conflicts" next week. Later on Tuesday, Pelosi’s office contacted Roll Call stating that the Speaker was now working to set up a session.... According to an administration official, Pelosi and Armed Services Chairman Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) initially declined recent requests from the Defense Department to schedule a briefing on either Wednesday or Thursday of next week. The Pentagon first approached Armed Services Committee aides to set up a briefing, but panel aides said they were "too busy" to schedule a meeting next week, the administration official said. A second attempt to set up a briefing with the Speaker’s office was likewise declined.... "It’s puzzling that for the first time that Gen. Petraeus is in the country since he was unanimously confirmed by the Senate that the House has declined an offer to talk to him. We would hope that they would reconsider," the official said before Pelosi reversed course Tuesday and agreed to set up a House-wide meeting with Petraeus next Thursday.... Democratic aides said the Pentagon’s request violated standard briefing protocols, as such sessions usually are conducted on a regular basis by the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of State. The aides said that sending Petraeus is an effort to blunt Democratic criticism of the war. |
| Posted by:Captain America |
| #15 In my eyes, Petraeus ranks higher than any of you slugs in the capitol. I have some choice words for you myself. You put your political careers ahead of anything. You put the nation in danger, and you refuse to try something that was working to see how it worked. You are doomed 110. DOOMED. Blood is on Your hands. Nemo, fiddling as rome burns. Putting our guys under undue stress and danger by Constantly undermining them. Do I sound shrill to you? |
| Posted by: newc 2007-04-18 20:07 |
| #14 They wouldn't want mere fact to get in their way of demonizing the war would they? Funny how Pelosi can find time to take a trip over and visit a hostile dictator or three but can't find the time to be briefed on the war in which our troops are being killed. We know where her priorities lie... |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2007-04-18 18:05 |
| #13 ...So why aren't the 'Pubs tripping all over themselves to have public hearings? If it's just the House Republican leadership and a couple more, fine - but EMBARASS Pelosi and her cabal. Yes, I know the MSM won't cover it, but it will be a slap they cannot ignore - and when they're mad, they'll do stupid stuff. Mike Mike |
| Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2007-04-18 16:22 |
| #12 There are two kinds of yellow bellied cowards. Islamist cowards, and those they count on to cower in the face of their islamist terror: Democrat Party |
| Posted by: Vinegar Ulogum7733 2007-04-18 15:51 |
| #11 This sounds EXACTLY like when Dorothy, the Scarecrow, et al have come to see the "Great and Powerful Do not arouse the wrath of the great and powerful Oz. I said come back tomorrow. |
| Posted by: Justrand 2007-04-18 15:46 |
| #10 Maybe this is why - Petraeus in '08. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2007-04-18 15:44 |
| #9 They are spiteful and full of themselves. I mean do we not believe we are at WAR. I think this is part of the new realpolitik of denying that there is a threat. You cannot be a loyal opposition if it helps Bush fight the war, you don't want to be seen as anti-troop so you have to attack from a diffent angle - the war on terror is over-hyped and mostly arab rage at Israel. Iran, well they are very pro-American and western culture - its just that they are misunderstood by the American and European press. They have lots of oil and we need to be nice to them and talk. This idea of getting the Dems elected to the POTUS in order to get them on the right side of the WoT is so much BS. They will turn us into a nation of weak kneed apologists following the EU and UN directives and regulations and laws on just about everything. I sense survival mode is coming and we better start preparing for more Randy Weavers and Wacos. Problem for the new Dem administration is that there will more ex-SF types that will leave the AF's who won't be suckered by some blonde in disabled vehicle. This time it could be some real hot s**t. |
| Posted by: Jack is Back! 2007-04-18 15:31 |
| #8 He smiled and shook my hand ever so gently, and he wore a lovely silk pinstripe suit with a dashing club tie. He respects us implicitly, and only wants to be our friend. |
| Posted by: Nancy Pelosi 2007-04-18 15:21 |
| #7 Maybe Pelosi can provide detailed HUMINT on Baby Ass-aad. She the one who was conducting foreign policy and all. |
| Posted by: anymouse 2007-04-18 14:20 |
| #6 These people are so self-important they think Petraeus should schedule the war around the donks. |
| Posted by: Mike N. 2007-04-18 14:17 |
| #5 Is their schedule public? I'd kinda like to see what their priority was... |
| Posted by: mojo 2007-04-18 14:13 |
| #4 Boy, are they weak. They cannot even tolerate hearing him at a closed door members only meeting! I bet Pelosi schedules a bunch of hearings to conflict with his visit calculated to draw away their more vacillating members. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2007-04-18 14:08 |
| #3 I wouldn't want to piss that guy off. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2007-04-18 14:04 |
| #2 Perhaps the General has a few words regarding his speedy confirmation, followed by the lack of funding. |
| Posted by: eLarson 2007-04-18 13:59 |
| #1 "We don't need no stiiinking facts!" /Demonrats |
| Posted by: twobyfour 2007-04-18 13:44 |