Pelosi Says She Wasn't Consulted On Iraq

New House Speaker Wants Bush To Reach Out To Democrats

(The Politico)  By The Politico's Josephine Hearn and Mike Allen.

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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said yesterday that President George W. Bush did not consult her before announcing his new strategy for the war in Iraq — a sign that, despite the cozy rhetoric, the relationship between Washington's two powerhouses has already had its share of friction.

In an interview, Pelosi also said she was puzzled by what she considered the president's minimalist explanation for his confidence in the new surge of 21,500 U.S. troops that he has presented as the crux of a new "way forward" for U.S. forces in Iraq.

"He's tried this two times — it's failed twice," the California Democrat said. "I asked him at the White House, 'Mr. President, why do you think this time it's going to work?' And he said, 'Because I told them it had to.' "

Asked if the president had elaborated, she added that he simply said, " 'I told them that they had to.' That was the end of it. That's the way it is."

She also said during the interview in her spacious Capitol suite that no one else in the White House had asked her what she would do, or what the administration should do about Iraq.

The speaker did praise the president for his gracious salute to her at the beginning of his State of the Union address Tuesday night that prompted two standing ovations. And she said she takes the president at his word when he says he wants to reach across the aisle.

The new Congress may pass some version of his energy and immigration proposals, if Bush can round up enough Republican support, Pelosi suggested. But she rejected the proposal for a tax deduction for health insurance that was a centerpiece of his speech.

In all, she left no doubt that Democrats who now run the House and Senate intend to control the agenda. And, on domestic policy, Pelosi — not Bush — is now arguably the nation's most powerful force.

In Bush's speech on Iraq more than two weeks ago, he said he had "consulted members of Congress from both parties," as well as overseas allies and distinguished outside experts. And the president and his top aides had a swirl of meetings with lawmakers from both parties. But Pelosi said she was not satisfied, particularly recalling a White House meeting the afternoon of the speech.

"He brought us in to tell us what he was going to say in a matter of hours," she said. "It wasn't a consultation — it was a notification. And a late-minute one at that."

Pelosi made it clear the issue was the essential backdrop in Washington for the foreseeable future, however much Bush wants to talk about domestic issues. "We have an 800-pound gorilla in the room and it's called Iraq," she said. "That, to me, is the primary issue facing the Congress and the president in terms of some place that we have to work together."

But she added, "I don't see any signal that the president is ready to listen. Nonetheless I pray — and I use the word very, very specifically — pray that he will go to another place on Iraq."

Describing the president's plan as "add Americans," the speaker said: "Whatever it is, if he's going to go ahead with it, I hope it succeeds, of course. This is the third time."

If it does not, she asked, "What would he do then? Would that send a message to him that perhaps these people have to be left to their own security?"

A senior administration official disagreed with Pelosi's comments, noting that she and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., had sent a letter the previous Friday opposing the surge. "By the time we met with her on Wednesday, we knew for sure where she stood," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Despite seemingly unbridgeable differences with Democrats on Iraq, Bush hopes to use domestic issues to fight for relevancy at a low point in his presidency by seeking a series of compromises.

He telegraphed his strategy in the State of the Union address, with his emphasis on providing health care coverage to the uninsured and liberalizing the nation's immigration laws.

Tax cuts are gone as a rhetorical centerpiece and, instead, his aides hoped the headline out of the speech would be sort of a Nixon-to-China idea for the former Texas oilman: The most specific plan for reducing gasoline use that he has ever proposed. But officials said he will stick to his broadest principles, including resistance to tax increases.

"He's going to seek compromise in areas where he can," said a top presidential adviser who spoke on condition of anonymity so he could speak candidly. "You create relevance in politics by appearing to be relevant. If Democrats are engaging with him on a series of issues, that gives him leverage."

In the interview, Pelosi said she was eager to take Bush up on his outreach to the new Democratic majority.

"My confidence in his willingness to work in a bipartisan way springs from his word — he said it," Pelosi explained. "We have enough areas of agreement that we can move forward and that we have to move forward."

For instance, she cited what she calls her "innovation agenda" of measures designed to improve technology at U.S. businesses.

"Let's build confidence where we can without there being any ideology involved, and then take it to what we can do on energy independence," she said. "Let's find our common ground. Maybe we can do something on immigration if the president really wants to take the lead because he's going to have to lead his party there, and I think he knows that."

Still, the speaker said she is uncertain that the White House will always sound quite as accommodating.

"They have to do what they have to do," she said. "They have to appeal to their base, appeal to their party."

And she declared, "I have to do what I have to do.''

John Bresnahan and Carrie Budoff contributed to this report.

[covair63]

I don't see how anyone out there can be so stupid and dumb as to believe that by pulling out our troops and not finishing the job is good.That is the most stupid and incompetent idea I have ever heard. The reason the vietam war ended as it did was because of politicians and big business. If the military had been allowed to do thier job we would have won that war as we will this one if the politicians will work together for the good of the country instead of the party.

[long_rider]

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/012607K.shtml

[long_rider]

The chimp and company are above being polite, they can do what ever they want, spineless Americans let them get away with it.

The war is such a FUBAR I would not want to be consulted about it. Pelosi is better off not knowing what is going on.

Did any of the major news organizations mention the fact that there is going to be an anti war protest in DC this weekend? Don't recall seeing anything.

So much for the free press. I think Provda purchased all the American news services, or maybe cheney and the chimp did.

[rdndv]

The president is a president and not a dictator. It is high time he LISTENED to the polls, the Congress, the whole host of generals who oppose his plan, and the Iraq Study Group. He has surged before (they were disasters), and the only reason Americans pay attention now is because he is a president who has proven that he needs supervision constantly. So Nancy can yell at him all he wants, but he's not going to hear.

[rdndv]

Nancy is absolutely right. Bush has done surges before. This isn't a new concept. Now, the country is actually paying attention because Bush, Rumsfeld and company have failed miserably in the past. He still asks for another chance!?! He has obviously proved to be a president who needs supervision, and shouldn't be trusted with the lives of 21,500 Americans. It is high time that Bush starts listening to generals, polls, Congress, and the Iraq Study Group. Nobody wants a surge, he may be the president, but he's not a dictator, and he needs to LISTEN. He obviously has a real problem doing that. Nancy needs to fight him, but I don't know how much good it will do.

[jjcomet]

"How come no one heard whining and complaining when Clinton shut down a sizable portion of our defensive and offensive capabilities? Sizeable enough to allow Middle East do de-stabilize into the blood-thirsty monster it is today? News flash: Geopolitics do not change overnight, it usually takes two presidential terms."

Making up histiory is fun, isn't it kids? God, what a moron. You are right on one matter - geopolitics doens't change overnight (of course the follow up statement is sheer stupidty, but I digress). Study our Middle Eastern policy during the 1980s if you really want to know who destabilized the Middle East - It wasn't Clinton shaking hands with Saddam and smiling as we gave him chemical weapons, or arming the mujahideen in Afghanistan. But don't let facts get in the way of your man-crush on President Bush...

[jjcomet]

"We have a President, and a fairly GOOD one, thank you."

Figures that someone stupid enough to make such a remark would choose "lieberman18" as a screen name.

"The last time Dems handled National Security matters they f*cked up."

As opposed to the sterling job Chimpy McDoofus and his crew are doing. Seriously, it's hard to believe you're able to dress yourself in the morning. Which of your parents told you what to write?

[lindu813]

Mr. President, Ms. Pelosi, and the press of the United States: I would rather have started my morning with: "Representative Pelosi has attempted to approach The President of the United States(or vice versa) to find out why he left her out of his Iraq plans". That would be a start to opening communications between the two and we don't have to listen to press dribble about "nah, nah, nah......he left me out". Perhaps the press corps could dig a little deeper and find out has communication occured between the two parties. To the press: could you, just every now and then, find your way off of the third grade playground?

[lindu813]

Mr. President, Ms. Pelosi, and the press of the United States: I would rather have started my morning with: "Representative Pelosi has attempted to approach The President of the United States(or vice versa) to find out why he left her out of his Iraq plans". That would be a start to opening communications between the two and we don't have to listen to press dribble about "nah, nah, nah......he left me out". Perhaps the press corps could dig a little deeper and find out has communication occured between the two parties. To the press: could you, just every now and then, find your way off of the third grade playground?

[hillaryin08]

News Flash for Nancy

The President does not have to get your permission to do anything.

The reinforcements are already on the way to Afghanistan and Iraq and there will be no Impeachment or Trial. The liberal leadership has lied to you once more. On top of that, Kerry, Edwards, Algre, Leiberman and Murtha got swift boated by the Democrat Party.

[gdmoore2]

Representative Pelosi, in addition to being Speaker of the House, is next in the line of succession to the President after Vice President Cheney. If for no other reason, she should be kept fully briefed at all times, especially during wartime, and especially on important military decisions.

[teeus]

It's PRESIDENT and COMMANDER IN CHIEF.

Not KING and DICTATOR FOR LIFE.

[lieberman18]

Botox girl is NOT the Queen of America.

We have a President, and a fairly GOOD one, thank you.

She doesn't need to be filled in on anything on matters relating to National Security. The last time Dems handled National Security matters they f*cked up. Pelosi should go back to her hires of ILLEGALS and pushing through a GOOD minimum wage act that also protects small businesses.

But then again, Nan wants her ILLEGAL workers to shop at Wal-Mart. After all, better to pay Chinese pockets than American ones.

[one_american]

apple2pie:

Seriously?

Gee, wouldn't that be an honor...but Tony Snow doesn't need any help, I'm sure.

It's great fun to watch Tony take on the liberal press' biased and sometimes downright bigotted questions, with reason, tact, and humor in the White House Briefings.

[stopthewar]

It'll work because he said it had to???

That's it? That's the plan?

Yeah, that'll work... just like it has every time in the past.

Oh yeah, and Bill Kristol says shut up for a few months about it too.

What an incredible plan this is - if you criticize it, it will fail!

[stopthewar]

It'll work because he said it had to???

That's it? That's the plan?

Yeah, that'll work... just like it has every time in the past.

Oh yeah, and Bill Kristol says shut up for a few months about it too.

What an incredible plan this is - if you criticize it, it will fail!

[stopthewar]

It'll work because he said it had to???

That's it? That's the plan?

Yeah, that'll work... just like it has every time in the past.

Oh yeah, and Bill Kristol says shut up for a few months about it too.

What an incredible plan this is - if you criticize it, it will fail!

[stopthewar]

It'll work because he said it had to???

That's it? That's the plan?

Yeah, that'll work... just like it has every time in the past.

Oh yeah, and Bill Kristol says shut up for a few months about it too.

What an incredible plan this is - if you criticize it, it will fail!

[teeus]

Nooooooooo. Democrats were voted into office because the voters were tired of America ACTUALLY HEADING in the wrong direction--not being talked into believing it like the mark in a con game.

The President has laid out a new plan THAT COMPLETELY DISREGARDS INPUT from the Baker Commission, the Military Generals, and Congress.

Cliff, what color is the sky in your world?

[one_american]

Democrats were voted into office because the voters were tired of hearing the Dems complain that America was headed in the "wrong direction".

Now that Democrats are in the majority, and the president has laid out a new plan from the Baker Commission, the Military Generals, and after consulting Congress...

...the Democrats still say we are headed in the "wrong direction".

Do you get the impression that the Democrats "direction" is RETREAT FROM THE ENEMY?