Posted on 05/09/2007 5:55:32 PM PDT by kellynla
TIM RUSSERT, NBC NIGHTLY NEWS: Brian, all eyes on the Republican party. How long will they support the president's position on the Iraq War? Yesterday may have been a defining, pivotal moment.
At two-thirty in the afternoon, in the private quarters of the White House, the Solarium Room, eleven Republican congressmen had a private meeting with the president, the secretary of defense, the secretary of state, the chief political advisor Karl Rove, and the White House Press Secretary Tony Snow, and others.
This delegation was headed by Mark Kirk of Illinois and Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania. It was, in the words of one of the participants, the most unvarnished conversation they've ever had with the president.
Another member has said he has met with three presidents and never been so candid. They told the president, and one said, quote, "My district is prepared for defeat. We need candor, we need honesty, Mr. President."
The president responded, "I don't want to pass this off to another president. I don't want to pass this off, particularly, to a democratic president," underscoring he understood how serious the situation was.
Brian, the Republican congressmen went on to say, "The word about the war and its progress cannot come from the White House or even you, Mr. President. There's no longer any credibility. It has to come from General Petraeus.
The meeting lasted an hour and fifteen minutes, and was, in the words of one, " remarkable for the bluntness, and no holds barred honesty and the message delivered by all these Republican congressmen.
BRIAN WILLIAMS: And Tim...how did the president react and how did this then affect the instructions for VP Cheney heading off to Iraq?
RUSSERT: One congressman said, "How can our daughters and sons spill their blood while the Iraqi parliament goes on vacation? The president responded, "The Vice President is over there to tell them, 'Do not go on vacation.'"
Developing...
Geez, that was pretty easy to make you fold--about as easy as chasing the US out of the Middle East.
It's no surprise to me that you are a Rudy supporter....
I am not able to join. Asthma and other issues. or I would have joined at the age of 18.
I know people who are/have been in Iraq. I know a guy who was killed over there.
It saddens me that the President and Congress does not really want to do what it takes to win. One side doesnt have the heart and the other side doesnt have the guts.
I understand that you met with the President today regarding the Iraq conflict. Tim Russert noted that one congressman stated, "My district is prepared for defeat. We need candor, we need honesty, Mr. President." If I ever find out that you were the one who said those words, I will work tirelessly to have you removed from office - Republican or not. If you begin acting like other lilly-livered RINO's, I will work to have you replaced. We need leadership, not career politicians. Are you a leader or a gutless politician?? Show me.
Where's your district - France? Italy, maybe?
You've had "candor" and "honesty" for years, you bleeping idiot! What a bunch of friggin' rino barf bags...
Because they can't crap 100,000 fully trained troops out of their butts?
Thanks for wanting to serve, you can do your part now by supporting us, please. I've been in the Army and NG 16 years....
It is not clear to me he does not want to win. The only reason Al Qaeda and these insurgents working with them are still in business because the dummies on the left and some on the right, like yourself, give them hope to continue the fight in words and actions.
For the life of me I don't know what it takes for this administration to actually go on the offensive. Is it really any wonder so Pubbies are considering defecting....?
What sense does it make to ignore General Petraeus and decide the surge hasn’t worked, four months ahead of the schedule he laid out?
I have been supporting the war and our troops from the beginning.
I know we could win this war. It is the right thing to do.
but the politicians are selling out are troops and the mission.
Er, I don’t think Bush should go on vacation in August, either. The Bushes always take the month of August off and that’s when trouble always seems to come up.
So are some here.
I agree with you; its over. US troops can be proud of having got rid of Saddam and done their best in extraordinarily difficult circumstances. But when you have three groups of people who have no desire to stay together as a country and a “Parliament” that does not care to even cancel a vacation to craft essential compromise solutiona, then it’s over and time to end it and come home.
Two keyboard warriors telling each other how tough they are. I’m not impressed.
Shits like these are the reason that the Republican Party is the minority party in Congress today.
i live in a republican u.s. congressional and ca state assembly district,
and almost all of the “support our troops” ribbons came down a long time ago.
even republicans are tired of the war, and tired of bush.
Ba$tards!
Says a lot about your state and district.
Do you live in a gutter in Plant City?
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