Posted on 12/07/2006 3:51:25 AM PST by BigSkyFreeper
WASHINGTON - Although the Iraq Study Group's report will not magically solve the problems in Iraq, the "hell of a good try" proves that politicians of opposite parties can work together on major issues, former Sen. Alan Simpson said Wednesday.
Iraq has become "one of the most vexatious problems of our lives," said Simpson, a Republican from Wyoming.
"This one is a tough one," he said. "We don't have a silver bullet."
Simpson and the other commission members presented their report to President Bush at 7 a.m. at the White House. An engaged Bush spent an hour with them, asked questions and took notes, Simpson said.
"He went around the room and asked each of us on the study group our thoughts," he said. "Each of us gave him very complete, candid assessments of our report."
Vice President Dick Cheney, National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley, Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and spokesman Tony Snow also attended the meeting, Simpson said.
Nothing in the report likely surprised Bush or Cheney, Simpson said, since the group kept in touch with the administration. But some things in it will "cause a difference of opinion," including the recommendation that the U.S. talk with Iran and Syria.
"Iran hates us," Simpson said. "They may not even want to come to the table... They may hate our guts, but there's something they hate more. That's anarchy in Iraq."
Simpson said during his turn to speak at the White House, he talked about the critical importance of bipartisanship and his sadness that the American people feel the federal government is "dysfunctional."
He said the group's work is an example of how politicians on both sides can come together on big issues.
"If it doesn't work, it was a hell of a good try," he said. "And if it doesn't work and people say the Republicans and the Democrats could get together and do something, well here it is."
He said the commission deliberately avoided "flash words" like "cut and run" or "stay the course."
Instead, he said, "We just threw out 79 recommendations."
At the group's press conference releasing their report to the public, Simpson used his trademark humor to bring the only moments of levity.
Simpson predicted that the report would draw criticism from people he termed "100 percenters."
"A 100 percenter is a person you don't want to be around," he said. "They have gas, ulcers, heartburn and they seethe. They're not seekers, they're seethers. There's a lot of them out there. And we're going to get it from the far right, we're going to get it from the far left. We're going to get, bombs away."
He added that many people will predict their recommendations can't work.
"But we're just sincere enough to believe that it will," he said. "... Maybe we can do something. That's what we're here for. People of goodwill and good faith. Maybe it's corny, maybe it won't work, but it's sure as hell better than sitting there where we are right now."
How can anyone in their right mind think this farce of a group has merit. If any of them have been to Iraq to actually see what's going on, it was for a brief time. My guess is the little sissies just get hysterical if their attire gets muddied. These folks don't have a clue! They're just armchair, Iraq war shrinks...
This collection of "formers" have obviously capitulated to the "No Blood For Oil" croud with Ramsey Clark and A.N.S.W.E.R. to help America seek out disgrace and defeat for the second time in American history!!!
I used to admire you during the Thomas hearings and such, Alan, but you can take your 49% attitude and shove it 100% of the way up your differential as far as I'm concerned!!!
That's how this 100 percenter sees it!!!
If this was like WWII there would have at least been a full mobilization to get Americans on an alternative to oil.
If we had been addicted to Mercedes and Toyotas you bet Americans would have found alternatives.
W's solution was for Americans to go shopping.
I guess FDR was a 100 percenter, because he demanded nothing less than unconditional surrender from the Axis powers. And Truman? He must have been a seether for being willing to drop the A-bomb to end the war in the Pacific.
What a pantload - two deceased Dem presidents had far more balls and common sense than the likes of Simpson and Baker could ever dream of having.
Simpson shows he is in the terminal states of Mad Pol Disease - where too much time within the Beltway turns a man's mind into mush, incable of clear-thought and only thinking of his next ego feeding.
I can name a few 100 percenters for Mr. Simpson:
Washington, Adams, Jefferson, egs.
They were 100% for independence and liberty and didn't say, when things were bleak, well, we gave it a damn good try. On victory, they staked their lives, fortunes and sacred honor. The last being something entirely forgotten in the halls of American power today.
You have got it, 100% montag813
Simpson's behavior at the unveiling of the report yesterday was similar to a court jester.
He continued his hardee har har corn pone schtick on the circuit last night.
All that was missing was the seltzer bottle and the trick flower on his lapel.
The ISG report was apparently the member's version of open mike night at the Improv .
Their jovial behavior was totally inappropriate and disgusting.
The laughing and guffawing, the jokes, the ear to ear smiles and of course the shoulder dislocations from patting themselves and each other on the back .
Buffoons and media whores.The whole lot of them.
""Iran hates us," Simpson said. "They may not even want to come to the table... They may hate our guts, but there's something they hate more. That's anarchy in Iraq."
Well, Simpson sure just came out and declared himself an idiot. Iran could care less if it's former rival has anarchy. After all, Iran has been working hard to create such anarchy. Iran wants Iraq to be controlled by pro-Iran forces.
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Inspired by a drive to get back to the fundamentals of the Republican Party, Governor Christie Whitman created the political organization It's My Party Too, which advocates for the historic Republican principles of liberty, individual responsibility, and personal freedom.
IMP-PAC's vision is a Republican Party that is unified by the basic tenets of fiscal responsibility and personal freedom, but that allows for diverse opinions on social issues by its members.
IMP-PAC members consider themselves True Conservative Republicans. Republicans who believe that our elected officials have a responsibility to their constituents to spend their money wisely. We believe that government should have a limited role in Americans personal lives. And we believe in a strong national defense.
It's My Party Too PAC or IMP-PAC is a political action committee dedicated to supporting fiscally conservative, socially inclusive Republican candidates at all levels of government. Governor Whitman also created a 527 to advance the issues that help define Real Conservative members of the Republican Party.
IMP-PAC is NOT defined by one issue. We believe, as you can see through our diverse Advisory Board Members, that people who believe in the core Republican values can find common ground on social issues.
---
Al is on the Advisory Board.
Just think Diversity.
Moderates will be the death of this nation,, imo.
NOPE- the Iraq war has become one of the most vexing problems for politicians who love to play God with people's live and are facign political suicide if they don't recommend that we pull out and turn our backs on Iraq immediately- http://sacredscoop.com
I guess that includes Roosevelt and Churchill for foolishly demanding unconditional surrender in WWII.
It also includes Ronald "We win, they lose" Reagan as well.
I saw Baker on TV last night.
He said two things that interested me:
1. Iran would love to see us bogged down in Iraq.
2. Iran has a vested interest in a stable Iraq.
I spent the rest of the night trying to figure out how both of these could be true.
(hint: They can't be. They have 0 vested interest in a stable Iraq, and a lot of interest in a chaotic one.)
You did't see his tactic? It's pretty simple: casting aspersions in advance upon those who disagree on principle, seeking to marginalize them as hopeless zealots.
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