Pelosi Announces Democratic Forum to help chart a 'New Direction' in Iraq

[bigtree]

Pelosi Announces Democratic Forum on Iraq

11/21/2006 4:34:00 PM

To: National Desk

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Speaker-designate Nancy Pelosi announced today that House Democrats will hold a forum to discuss the war in Iraq on Tuesday, Dec. 5. Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, and Maj. Gen. John Batiste will join current and new members of the Democratic Caucus in discussing options for a way forward in Iraq.

"The war in Iraq is one of the most critical issues confronting our nation, and the American people have clearly called for a New Direction in Iraq," Pelosi said. "We know that 'stay the course' is not working, has not made our country safer, has not honored the commitment to our troops, and has not brought stability to the region. I look forward to hearing from our distinguished group of experts as House Democrats discuss the deteriorating situation in Iraq."

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=76681



http://journals.democraticunderground.com/bigtree

[joemurphy]

1. This sounds like a VERY good idea to me.

We won't have to be married to the Baker recommendations. It gives us some very good options.

[bigtree]

2. I wish it were a series, but it does seen like an effort to blunt the recs which are due in Dec.

from Baker's group, and the Pentagon one as well

[bryant69]

3. I agree

This is a very good idea.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. Alright, the election's over.

Enough with the "New Direction" talking point. The new direction had better be "out."

No ifs, ands, or buts.

[bigtree]

6. she won't be able to insist on 'get out now'. the votes aren't there

She has to politic, it's part of the job. Tell me how you manage your position of 'get out ' with the representatives who make up our new Democratic majority. How do you maintain the integrity of that position and still get the votes of the partial/phased withdrawal legislators?

We can't just bicker back and forth and leave the troops in place so, she'll have to seek a consensus. They could be left there while they bicker in D.C. until Bush leaves office. So, we need a compromise between the two alternatives to start bringing some of these soldiers home; to possibly save some of their lives. Rep. Pelosi is the Speaker of the whole House and has a responsibility to bring the members together and get them to act. This isn't an issue that they should be digging their heels in over if their ultimate goal is to bring the soldiers home. They should begin, right away, to put foward a proposal that has the widest amount of support among the members of our new majority. The soldiers can't wait for 2 or more years while they cast symbolic votes which they KNOW won't lead anywhere. Rep. Pelosi has to take Bush's ability to veto into account as well as the positions of her own party members in their majority which is not veto-proof.

[Bitwit1234]

5. Hate Campaign by right against Pelosi

You know what we need. We need someone to head a committee to start our own campaign. We need to flood the media with emails, letters, phone calls and boycotts. We need to let them know that their campaign of hate and vile is not going to work that we will counter all this crap they are spewing. We have got to start this campaign now.