Posted on 12/08/2006 3:27:54 AM PST by Mo1
With the Bush administration on the defensive in the wake of the strong critique of its Iraq policies by the Iraq Study Group, the Democrats might be expected to be cheering. But key Democrats in Congress are keeping their distance from the report. Critics of the war opponents obviously liked the report's stark portrayal of the deteriorating situation in Iraq and its blunt assessment of failed Bush administration policies there. But while seeking to "pivot off that to put it squarely back in the lap of the President to propose a way forward in Iraq," in the words of one senior Democratic aide, "there's definitely a sense of wariness up here on Capitol Hill."
Take Nancy Pelosi, the future House Speaker. While one of the fiercest congressional critics of Bush and the war, she promised only that her party would give the report's recommendations "full consideration" — not its stamp of approval. Pelosi has been leery of the commission from the start, because she had no hand in picking its Democratic members. Normally legislation setting up such blue- ribbon panels has a clause specifying that congressional Democratic and Republican leaders will have a hand in picking members. But the measure creating this panel, sponsored by GOP Congressman Frank Wolf, left those choices up to the co-chairs, former Secretary of State James Baker and former Indiana Rep. Lee Hamilton. Pelosi "didn't think the commission was constituted properly," says a friend. "That annoyed her."
(Excerpt) Read more at time.com ...
Democrats cannot take a position --- that is why they treat the report with caution, regardless how much is is aligned with their worldview.
Well .. they are in charge of Congress now and should take a stand
Put up or shut up
Well, they saw J F'n K's mistake of taking both positions so now that they are back in power we're going to see two years of them taking no position.
You mean, how Bill Clinton took a stand on issues?!
Don't you learn from history. These people NEVER take a stand.
Read: Nancy was left out and there are too many Clintonistas in the group, making her look even less infuential and relevant.
Joseph Biden, who will take over the Foreign Relations Committee in January, was miffed that the commission dismissed his proposal to federalize Iraq, setting up Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish regions run by largely autonomous governments.
Right...because we know how partitioning areas of the Middle East has worked out so far. Do what said, Joe. Spend more time boffing your wife and less time legislating. You're intolerably inept and arrogant.
Kerry just tried to duplicate what Bill Clinton did for 8 years. Kerry is just not as smooth.
Democrats cannot take a stand because their entire world-view is relativistic, not concrete.
Yes I know their history .. that's why they should not be allowed to take a pass
Nancy Pelosi has taken a stand.
She says that the jihadis will leave Iraq if we leave.
Can't say that's not a position. It may be completely clueless, but it is certainly a position.
Yes, I'm sure the NY Times and CBS will hold their feet to the fire.......
I dont agree. They wont take a positions because they have read the thing and it so full of garbage even the cut and runners dont want to give any credence to it.
Was he for the study before he was against it?
They used the Media Trashing of Bush to gain power back. But they KNOW that if we lose in Iraq, we are going to experience Jihad here!
Position or DELUSION?
LLS
The Democraps in Congress (Where a Socialist has the 51st vote in the Senate)are really the representatives of Al-Quida/Taliban interests!
Didn't Nancy also say (minutes after the report was released) that the report proved the Bush policy was a failure? Hard for me to cipher how it can prove Bush failed but only be taken under consideration by her. Her "flipflopometer" may run at a higher RPM than Kerry's.
Democrats want to exist in some indeterminate state, much like Schrodinger's Cat. They can be whatever you want them to be, but no peeking!
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