Democrats Cool On Bush Offer Of Iraq Talks

Top Leaders Wary Because President Won't Negotiate On Troop Withdrawal Deadline

(CBS/AP)  It sounded like an olive branch. President Bush said Tuesday he wants to sit down with Democrats to resolve the standoff with Congress over war funding.

But the White House insisted Bush was in no mood to negotiate, and since the president won't sign any bill that includes a timetable for a U.S. troop withdrawal, Democrats questioned the point of meeting at all.

“We can discuss the way forward on a bill that is a clean bill — a bill that funds our troops without artificial timetables for withdrawal, and without handcuffing our generals on the ground,” Bush said in a speech to an American Legion audience in nearby Fairfax, Va.

On the one hand, Bush extended an offer to meet with lawmakers Tuesday. On the other, the White House bluntly said it would not be a negotiating session.

The president said if lawmakers don't send him a bill he will sign — one that does not include timetables or money for pet projects in their home districts — it would be Congress, not the White House, that will have to answer to troops.

“The bottom line is this: Congress' failure to fund our troops will mean that some of our military families could wait longer for their loved ones to return from the front lines,” Bush said at American Legion Post 177. “Others could see their loved ones headed back to war sooner than anticipated. This is unacceptable.”

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid hit back hard, saying a lack in funding would be the president’s fault for not realizing he no longer has a Republican Congress, reports CBS News chief White House correspondent Jim Axelrod.

“The president in the past, he has just done whatever he wanted," said Reid. "He had a big rubber stamp up here on Capitol Hill. Whatever he wanted, they stamped 'okay.' That's not the way it is now ... he has got to listen to us because we are speaking for the American people he isn’t.”

In a joint statement, Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi rejected the terms set by the White House.

“Congressional Democrats are willing to meet with the president at any time, but we believe that any discussion of an issue as critical as Iraq must be accomplished by conducting serious negotiations without any preconditions,” the statement said.

“With his threat to veto such a plan for change in Iraq, President Bush is ignoring the clear message of the American people: We must protect our troops, hold the Iraqi government accountable, rebuild our military, provide for our veterans and bring our troops home. The president is demanding that we renew his blank check for a war without end.”

Jim Manley, a spokesman for Reid, said Bush must drop his conditions on the meeting before Reid would attend. Pelosi agreed.

“I join with Senator Reid in rejecting an offer of that kind,” Pelosi said at a news conference in San Francisco. “The president wants a blank check and the Democrats won't give it to him.”

Bush said the Defense Department will soon send Congress a request to transfer $1.6 billion from other military accounts to cover funding for troops — a move needed, he said, because lawmakers have delayed his emergency spending request. He warned that continued delays would undermine troop training, slow the repair of equipment and force soldiers to serve longer tours of duty.

Bush got an assist for his argument on Tuesday from Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who said he saw no need to set a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops. His comments in Japan came a day after tens of thousands of Iraqis took to the streets of two Shiite holy cities, demanding that U.S. forces leave the country.

Meanwhile, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton wrote to Defense Secretary Robert Gates questioning whether additional National Guard units named Monday for possible deployment to Iraq will be properly trained and equipped before they leave.

The Missouri Democrat also said he was concerned about another proposal revealed Monday that could keep five active duty brigades in Iraq beyond their planned late-summer homecoming. “I must ask you, Mr. Secretary, where does this end?” Skelton said in his letter Tuesday.

Bush has asked Congress for more than $100 billion to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan this year. The House and Senate have approved the money, but their bills aim to wind down the war by including timelines for troops to come home — something Bush won't accept.

The Senate bill would require a U.S. troop exit in Iraq to begin within 120 days, with a completion goal of March 31, 2008. The House bill orders all combat troops out by Sept. 1, 2008.

Bush also opposes the bills because of what he calls pork-barrel spending on matters unrelated to the war.

White House deputy press secretary Dana Perino suggested that Bush has the upper hand because Democrats do not have votes to override his veto. And she stressed that the meeting was not a negotiation session.

“The president is not asking to lecture anybody, nor does he want to,” Perino said. “We understand that Congress has a role to play. We understand what that role is. I would hope that they understand what the commander in chief's role is. And if a meeting can help alleviate some of the tension, then that's what we're for.”

When a reporter said it sounded like an invitation for Democrats to agree with Bush, Perino said, “Well, hopefully so.”

Perino said Democrats could benefit by meeting with Bush but said she was not aware of any lawmaker who had accepted his invitation so far. “Maybe they need to hear again from the president about why he thinks it is foolish to set arbitrary timetables for withdrawal,” she said.

[abbe7]

Send him the bill, with the timetable and tell him it's the only one he will get.

[terrapin78]

The Chimp needs to understand that he has lost the support of the US citizenry and he WILL have to negotiate.

The Dems for their part will in the end give the Chimp a clean bill. But there should also be an appeal that "We have too small of a majority to end the war, so the electorate must elect a bigger, veto-proof majority. The Chimp will be history (and reflected poorly on in history) by then and the Democratic President can bring home our troops and re-build our devastated military.

[notblue]

billysmith, what is the Dmeocratically controled congress doing about illegal immigration???

[abbe7]

BTW, we might learn more soon ...

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-na-laptops9apr09,0,4563806.story?coll=la-home-headlines

How long before it makes it to the headlines here ?

[toldyouso21]

Since the meeting is just more of the same bushit--the dems should just SNUB him, and tell him "Call us when you grow up and are ready to negotiate NOT dictate" The American public approve of what the Dems are doing according to polls (40%) and do NOT approve of what Bush is doing--plus and even more important, nobody is listening to his tired old bushit anymore.

Grow up Bush--=this is not your kingdom and the Dems are not your loyal flunkies!!!

[j4401]

Will the news media properly investigate why Bush and Cheney are so stuck in staying in Iraq. I believe it is time to give the American public the truth. I wish I was a news reporter, boy would that be fun right about now.

[abbe7]

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/To_counter_Bush_veto_Feingold_introduces_0410.html

[luvny-2009]

President Bush on Tuesday invited Democrats to discuss their standoff over a war-spending bill, but he made clear he would not change his position opposing troop withdrawals. The White House bluntly said the meeting would not be a negotiation.

What a jerk why would anyone bother to meet then. Just another my way or the hightway ***!

[tuckerndfw]

Why bother?

Congress should be meeting to discuss Bush & Cheney's impeachments.

There really is nothing more pressing than that. Until Bush & Cheney are removed from office, discussing anything else is pointless.

Both are demonstrably incompetent & corrupt to the point neither is fit to continue serving as president or vice president.

Giving the Bush administration more money represents malfeasance in office by Congress.

[netadmin1-2009]

j4401

the news media can't "properly" investigate anything.

[misha131]

I am much less concerned with "micro-management" of the war in Iraq. I am still looking for management changes indealing with the war in Iraq. In the administration and Republican position thus far the "Al Quaeda" statements have recieved more consideration in the planning and execution of this war than other items such as the Iraq Study Group Report and especially responding to and reorganizing efforts clearly needed based on the Special Inspector General report on Iraq Reconstruction. If all efforts in Iraq are not coordinated and robust diplomatic, political and military the effort is very unlikely to succeed. Thusfsr, I failt to see anyone fully addressing a complete plan for success.

[irishbitch1]

The dems need to tell georgie that this is the only bill he will get, he can either sign it or veto it and with his veto all funding should be cut! BRING OUR TROOPS HOME!

[abbe7]

"Will the news media properly investigate why Bush and Cheney are so stuck in staying in Iraq. I believe it is time to give the American public the truth. I wish I was a news reporter, boy would that be fun right about now.
Posted by j4401 at 12:54 PM : Apr 10, 2007"

Like this ?

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/article2132569.ece

[afmca]

Same old *** .. what Bush is really saying is I will talk and you will be subservient and listen and obey. Unfortunately he still hasn't grasped that his Republican lapdogs no longer are in power. He is incapable of holding a two way conversation since that would require intelligence. He still plays his sick, demented game while brave American soldiers and Iraqi citizens perish. It has gone beyond embarrassment.

[j4401]

I guess I prefer the truth behind the reasons that led to the war and why we are really there. As former government employee I have discovered a very important quip: "Its the accountability stupid."

[harp1963]

Let's talk about Iraq George. Let's see what one of the most loyal Republicans in the last 30 year, who has a reputation for honesty and integrity, has to say:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/09/60minutes/main592330.shtml

This war was a legal way to channel billions of taxpayer dollars into two companies run by friends of Bush and Cheney with unbid government contracts to rebuild Iraq. The big problem with their plan though is that they didn't anticipate all this resistance. They thought the Iraqis would welcome us with open arms, as liberators. What we have here is called the biggest legal mafia in the history of mankind.

[clestes-2009]

"he made clear he would not change his position opposing troop withdrawals."

What's to talk about?? It is another "my or the highway" or "with us or against us" attitude. Bush is NEVER going to learn diplomacy. It is a bad word for him.

[missmyhubby]

Is our President serious??!!?? Now he has resorted to threats that he will extend the units already there and send units early if he doesn't get his money!! This is the last straw! How dare he try to bully our country into doing what he wants. This is just another example of why this great country is going down the toilet! Yes Mr. President--great idea! Run our troops into the ground...the very troops that give you the freedom to be stupid!!! "Come meet with me so I can tell you what to do. I am not going to listen to you..."--how long are we going to have to listen to this before things start to change?

Fine--he wants a bill with no "pork spending" in it...send him this: You can have your money. Every penny. The troops start coming home in 90 days and will be out of theater in no more than 365 days. There--sign it now and bring them home in a year...veto it and you get nothing!

AAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRHHHHHHHHHHGGGGGGGGG!

[ramos937]

Bush has invited the Speaker of the House, the Senate Majority Leader and assorted Senators/Rep. to hear him say the same things he has been saying over and over again. No negotiation; no discussions; no presentation of Congress's views; just for them to listen to him.

The proper response from the Democratic Senators/Reps - thanks but no thanks.

[walt1944-2009]

I have come to think that there maybe another reason why Bush and Cheney invaded Iraq. Forget the baloney about bringing Democracy to the Iraqi people, the only thing we have brought them is more bloodshed, like we brought the Vietnamese 40 years ago. Believing that we are fighting terrorists there to prevent them from coming here is a neo-con fantasy. And while oil may have been a determining profit factor for big oil ompanies, I think there is a much more sinister reason. Military people have been saying it for the past few years; the military is being stretched thin, weakened. Bush is using reservists and national guard troops which are meant to defend THIS COUNTRY, not fight in another. Troops are fighting with inferior equipment and coming back (if they do) to improper medical care.
Think about why Bush and Cheney would want a weak military, and lets see what happens in 2008!

[missmyhubby]

Holy *** walt1944...kind of scary!!!

[grazinggoat]

CBS: '"We're at war. It is irresponsible for the Democratic leadership in Congress to delay for months on end while our troops in combat are waiting for the funds they need to succeed."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- President Bush'

Bush is not aware, not yet, that he's the one who initiated this fire. It'll burn as long we don't get the heck outta there. It's HIS and his family/cronies war. The average American Joe is not pulling nothing out of it... So they have to finance it, and pay for it. They got to reimburse the government all the expenses and the souls, Americans paid for this private silly war.

[houser123]

What this President needs to understand is "There is a new sheriff in town." Why would anyone want to meet with this idiot and his co-horts. This POTUS is so incompetent it really is hard to believe. To invite someone to meet with him and set preconditions that he knows are in disagreement only shows just how much he is in denial of the will of the American and Iraqi people. It's time for Maliki and his contingent to step up and get the job done. Our legislature has gotten the job done, now its time for other to do the same. If Maliki can't do it, let them vote someone who will. The majority of Americans want us out, large portions of the world want us out, the majority of Iraqis want us out, so why is this POTUS so apposed. It's because of the money. Let's make one thing perfectly clear here. If funding for the war is stopped it will be by George W. Bush's hand and no one else.

[netadmin1-2009]

harp1963

pretty impressive story..

[netadmin1-2009]

harp1963

pretty impressive story..

[one_american]

Democrat Party flawed plan to form a shadow government, and to micro-manage the war are failing, and failing miserably.

It's time for the Democrats to fund the troops with a clean bill, or else vote down funding the troops.

In other words:
PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS.

It doesn't get any simpler than that, folks.

[forthepeopl1]

no bin said to his cousin bush/cheney ok i will need you to bring the army over here so we can play army.. and in the meantime make billions on the war.. while we sit back and do nothing..

if congress go and see him they better bring him out in hand cuffs/and cheney to. and bring them out to the americans to spit and throw brick at them...

[sevenveils]

The new sheriff puts on the clothing of a subservient female object to talk to world leader whose nation supports international terror. What was that supposed to say? "Please don't blow me up anymore!" ????

[forthepeopl1]

hey one-american/ what have you done for this country..????????

bush/cheney are finnish

[one_american]

Democrat Party's flawed plan to form a shadow government, and to micro-manage the war are failing, and failing miserably.

It's time for the Democrats to fund the troops with a clean bill, or else vote down funding the troops.

In other words:
PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS.

It doesn't get any simpler than that, folks.

[davek455]

it's over Bush.....resign now or plunge this country further into disrepect, disrepair and deeper demise

[nyckate]

One_American - do you not want to get it? NOBODY trusts Bush to handle Iraq -- he hasn't done one single thing right there yet - he's interferred in all decision-making proccesses and really screwed things up -- COngress WANTS to fund the troops they just are demanding oversight into Bush's decision making process such as it is.

[forthepeopl1]

and remember this big boy american- bush would be the one not funding and supporting the troops.. no one else..except his vp in crime cheney..losers all losers.

[sevenveils]

The pork laden politics of both parties should be suspended. The American public shouldn't have to put up any longer with their elected representatives representing the lobbyists more than their constituents.

[bogusbones]

Suggest we get some advice from the #1 person with Iraq experience. President Bush's father who had the good sense not to go into Bahgdad. I have a feeling he's not real pleased with his son's behavior.

[one_american]

The Democrat Party's flawed plan to form a shadow government, and to micro-manage the war are failing, and failing miserably.

It's time for the Democrats to fund the troops with a clean bill, or else vote down funding the troops.

Democrats need to stop hiding behind a phoney, pork-laden, political stunt.

In other words:
PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS.

It doesn't get any simpler than that, folks.

[j4401]

Why is this put in the context of "funding the troops?" Isn't this really about funding the people and companies who are making a fortune off us taxpayers. How many of you are currently experiencing tax issues with the IRS? I wonder why.

[bwessels]

At the meeting, Bush will read a list of names of those who oppose his war plan ("the unpatriotic," "traitors," whatever he wants to call them). They will be taken out of the room in turn and shot. Jeb "Udai" Bush will be appointed Speaker of the House.

Now THAT's the kind of leader Rumsfeld can smile at and warmly shake hands with.

[theeggman369]

"We're at war," Mr. Bush said. "It is irresponsible for the Democratic leadership in Congress to delay for months on end while our troops in combat are waiting for the funds they need to succeed."

Mr Bush calling Democrats irresponsible???? Just marching along, wondering why everyone else is out of step. Take off the blinders, look at your own feet, and get in step with the majority of the country, for which your supposed to represent.

[mudrose-2009]

Do you not get it. NYCKATE

Oh, we get it. After all Grandma Pelosi can go off to Syria and taut herself as the shadow president and say "the road to Damascus is the road to peace". Nobody trusts this Congress to accomplish anything. They are holding a lighted match to the military and blaming Bush. But then that's all they have and always will do. They are chicken/doves -- incapable of taking responsibility initially for supporting the war and ultimately for indirectly cuting off funding. Same ole party -- the party of Carter that practically left our country completely undefended and Clinton - good with his magic stick and fly overs on Iraq. Same ole, same ole.

[canyoutellme-2009]

I say the democrats do this....

Take that bill, remove the pork-barrell spending parts and LEAVE IN the timetable stuff. Put in the "Pork" on other spending bills, but take it off this one. That is a good negotiation and is a CLEAN bill. The american people are TIRED of this war and funding it is ridiculous. We do NOT want to put our troops in danger by not funding them. We want them OUT! so, let's fund them, and set a time table for withdrawal and THEN send the bill to the president again... if he vetos it, he's CLEARLY AGAINST the people of the United States. PERIOD

[j4401]

We support the troops not the "war."

[forthepeopl1]

what the matter one minus american- you must be bushis lover whats the matter he didn't give you some brest milk today..

one shot one bullet thats all it will take.

[one_american]

The Democrat Party's flawed plan to form a shadow government, and to micro-manage the war are failing, and failing miserably.

It's time for the Democrats to fund the troops with a clean bill, or else vote down funding the troops.

Democrats need to stop hiding behind a phoney, pork-laden, political stunt.

In other words:
PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS.

It doesn't get any simpler than that, folks.

[beachbumfun]

Lone Ranger Bush with his 30+ approval ratings wants to talk now....sheesh, what a ******

[inventagod]

What Bu$h says: "I will talk, you will listen"

What Congress hears: "Quag! Quag! Quag!"

(The sound of a lame duck, for the neocons in the crowd)

[forthepeopl1]

A declassified Pentagon report released Thursday concludes that there was no
direct cooperation between Saddam Hussein's regime and al Qeada. But *** Cheney,
apparently, remains convinced there was. ONLY IN HIS AND BUSHES HEAD!!!! ALSO
RUMSFELDS HEAD..THEY SHOULD BE HANGED FOR TREASON AGAIST OUR COUNTRY...FOR THE
MURDERS OF OUR KIDS.

The Washington Post on Friday said the report, which had been issued in summary
form in February, drew on "captured Iraqi documents" and "interrogations of
Saddam Hussein and two former aides" which "all confirmed" that Saddam and al
Qaeda were not working together prior to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. THERE
HAVE BEEN ALOT OF US SAYING THIS EXECT THING FOR A LONG TIME NOW, SO WERE ARE
THE ONES THAT LOVE THERE BUSH CRIME FAMILY.THIS SHOULD KILL THEM..SEEING CHENEY
WINEING LIKE A BABY.

WHY NOT LET ALL AMERICA KNOW ALL THIS, THIS SHOULD BE IN ALL PAPERS AND NEWS FOR
DAY ON DAYS UNTIL OUR ELECTED DO THE RIGHT THING. IMPEACH AND CHARGE THEM ALL
WITH WAR CRIMES...

WAKE UP AMERICANS AND FIGHT FOR YOUR COUNTRY. DONT LET OUR CONGRESS GET AWAY WITH MURDER
Posted by forthepeopl1 at 07:42 AM : Apr 10, 2007

go ahead and explain this all you bush love birds......they will be tried for treason...thats death by hanging in a military and being commander and chief he will

[one_american]

The Democrat Party's flawed plan to form a shadow government, and to micro-manage the war are failing, and failing miserably.

Even Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said that he saw no need to set a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops.

It's time for the Democrats to fund the troops with a clean bill, or else vote down funding the troops.

Democrats need to stop hiding behind a phoney, pork-laden, political stunt.

In other words:
PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS.

It doesn't get any simpler than that, folks.

[rafterman1]

"Democrats need to stop hiding behind a phoney, pork-laden, political stunt"

And Bush and the rest of you righties need to stop hiding behind the troops and your "support Bush 100% or you don't support the troops" rhetoric.

[mudrose-2009]

What a bunch of malcontents. You accuse your country of attacking itself; you accuse your President of miselading the American people; you have no respect for the military or even the people of Iraq. It took this country a long time to formulate its Constitution and we had men that were morally principled who recognized that God gives man inalienable rights, not man. What man bestows on mankind he can also take away. But then these concepts aren't real to you people. You haven't a clue of what a struggle is, everything's been handed to you. You assume you are entitled to be privy to everything and anything -- hopefully we won't have to endure another 9/11 because the whole lot of you live in a fantasy world of entitlements and if something doesn't affect you personally, then you lose the connection. Wasted words on worthless people.