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...
Kirk is my Congressman. 10th District - Illinois. He use to work in Intelligence while in the Reserves. I think our district is pretty much behind the President, so this comes as a surprise to me. In the last election, he clobbered his opponent. Perhaps I should call his office and hear what the deal is.
Bunch of poll whores .... saving their own butts in 2008 by throwing W (and the war) under the wheels.
I've argued so many times that Bush has a soapbox and needs to use it.
And yes, unfortunately you're right
Here's some candor Congressman. If we are indeed defeated, then Al Qaeda has won a major battle in the WOT. History tells us that our "defeat" will not assuage the feelings of the islamonuts, instead it will feed their blood lust and embolden them. So the next time you're in your stupid district you might want to advise your constitutents that this is not a ball game where they can take their bat and ball, go home and revel in defeat because the islamonuts will be coming to a town near you shortly.
and our republican congress will be the minority for years to come
“This administration sucks more at PR than any administration in recent memory.”
Look out for the incoming from some around here. But hey, it’s the truth.
I would guess one might be Congressman Walter Jones of 3rd district NC
Your district doesn't have the first effing clue what defeat is, or what it means.
The only people setting the example are the ones in harms way.
If this is true, I call those "Republicans" cowards.
Dent was one of the first Congressmen to come out and jump on the Rooty bandwagon. RINO Supremo.
"Rudy as President will be as pro-life as Ronald Reagan,
Dreier is a pathetic waste.
Change to a nice panty brief, puss.
According to Russert, Jones was not one of them.
Sadly we ended up the wrong Bush. If only Jeb had defeated Lawton Chiles in his first race for Gov, ah well...
I am sick and tired of the cowards here at home.
The spineless and gutless are legion.
There are very few strong Americans left.
One benefit of the Iraq War is that the pretend Americans get exposed.
One might justifiably ask that same question about the American Congress.
Eleven republicans out of what—200? I’m not sure I see the national significance here. Sounds more like a handholding session than anything else.
You are a joke.
If you choose to believe the biased pro-terrorist polling firms, go right ahead.
Bashing Rasmussen proves you are a bitter jerk who hates President Bush and support the terrorist plan for Iraq more enough to dismiss accurate polls.
Bin Laden was right about people like you.
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