Rangel: Bush Must Compromise On Iraq

Former Speaker Newt Gingrich And Rep. Charles Rangel Talk About Iraq

(CBS)  As top White House aides and Congressional leaders try to find a way past the political standoff over funding the Iraq war, a powerful House Democrat says President Bush is the one who will have to blink first.

"Our leadership had hoped that, meeting with the president, that we could see some compromise," Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., said on Face The Nation. "But as long as the president refuses to do anything except stay the course, then we, in the House ... would constantly send a message to the president that we want him to come up with some idea to withdraw the troops."

Rangel, the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, says there is no way his party is giving up its fight, even though President Bush vetoed the first bill that called for bringing the troops home from Iraq in October.

"It would be ridiculous to think that we're going to just drop this fight," Rangel said. "This is not our fight. This is the American people's fight. They asked us to send a message to the president."

Last week, Bush vetoed a $124 billion bill to provided money for Iraq and Afghanistan operations in part because it required troops to begin returning home by Oct. 1, saying the fixed date is unworkable.

Also last week, presidential candidate Sen. Hilary Clinton, D-N.Y., called for a repeal of the authorization the Congress gave the president to go to Iraq.

"Well, I think, frankly, it made her look foolish," former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich told Bob Schieffer. "If she's serious about it, then move to cut off the funds. If they can't cut off the funds, then let's get on with trying to win the war. But I think this middle zone of politics while young Americans die is very bad for the country."

Congress can continue to try to push forward a timetable, Gingrich said, but the president will veto it every time. He said it's more important to get money to the troops when the United States remains the war, otherwise their safety and morale will be undermined.

"We should always make certain that those dedicated, brave people are protected no matter what," Rangel said. "And if you don't believe this country is strong enough to make certain that they can safely return home, then we're not being realistic."

But Rangel said the American people have showed how they feel about the war with the 2006 elections and it's time to think about how to leave. He said the U.S. should reach out to friends in Europe and the Middle East and work for a peaceful solution.

"We must follow the people's mandate and do everything that we can to send a message to President Bush that we want to stop the war and we want to bring the troops home," he said. "So if you want to talk about repealing his authority or cutting the funds or setting a timetable, whatever has to be done, he has to stop listening to Dick Cheney."

Most importantly, Rangel said it's time for Americans to stop being placed in the middle of what he called a civil war.

"These people have been fighting each other for centuries," Rangel said. "Who in the devil thinks that we know enough or we're sophisticated enough to stop the civil war that exists there?"

[gunnerv1]

Conservatives,leaving Iraq= Winning
Liberals, leaving Iraq= Quitting

[gweedosezz]

Congress sent a bill to Bush that provided all of the funds he asked for and provided all the support needed to conduct the war until the fall of 2008. Bush's veto is his admission that he believes he cannnot win by then and the conflict in Iraq will continue long after that date or he would have no problem taking the money and rising to the task.

Since his term as President ends shortly after this date, he is acknowledging that he has failed in Iraq and that it will be left to those who follow him to clean up his mess. This should come as no surprise since that has been his pattern all of his life.

If the Democrats are strong enough and do not cave in, they can give him one last chance to save his legacy. If they can prod him into getting his *** in gear and turning things around in that time, history may vindicate him. On the other hand, if it is left to Hillary or Obama to finish the job after he leaves office, he will forever be remembered as someone who could never finish anything he started. It's tough love, but it is all he has left.

[r9119111]

didntinhale:

We need you on the front lines. With your line, the foe would run the other way. I hope they pay you enough to sell your soul.

[randalds]

No money without a timetable. Period. The American people want it that way and congress must not cave into the Bush blackmail of holding our troops safety hostage to his stubborn ego. he can't say that congress is refusing to fund the troops because they sent him a bill with even more then he asked for. HE is the one responsible if the money runs out, not them.

[mbcsmith]

The LIB party is the party of DEFEAT and SURRENDER. Fight the good fight Mr President. Don't let these traitors endanger us.

[sjc_1]

When you have a group in the White House that think the word compromise is a dirty word and a sign of weakness, then you have gridlock. The founding fathers built the country on negotiation and compromise. When one party will not bargain in good faith, you have a complete breakdown in the process.

[bigsk8fan]

Yes, you go Charlie! We elected the Democrats to stop the Congressional Rubber Stamping everything the President wanted. That includes restricted funding for the illegal war of aggression in Iraq. It has nothing to do with the war on Terror. Afghanistan is where that battle is being fought.

OK REPUBLICANS CAN YOU SPELL
C-O-N-G-R-E-S-S A-P-P-R-O-P-R-I-A-T-E-S
D-O-N-T N-E-E-D 2/3 V-O-T-E

President Bush added to names of defendants in War Crimes Trial already involving Donald Rumsfeld.

Vice President *** Cheney accidentally shoots soldier at Walter Reed Hospital.

Republicans cry fowl. Democrats fly in face of Presidential Veto. Decide to soar to People's Election Expectations and stop Iraq War Funding. No cushy nest egg for Cheney's Haliburton flock.

Pelosi and Reid greeted by ticker tape parade in New York City for telling Bush1t to take a flying leap without funding for illegal war of aggression.

Even a Neocon can understand that the President can't appropriate money on his own. Only Congress has that power. And America voted for Democrats to oversee President Bush1t. Sorry, Neocons and Republicans, elections have consequences.

[bluestardad]

The American Enterprise Institute came up with this Surge Plan Not American Generals!

Contact Information Reuel Marc Gerecht

American Enterprise Institute
1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20036
Assistant: 202-862-5926
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

Here are Senators from Military states that got into office from the military vote!

McConnell, Mitch- (R - KY)
361-A RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: mcconnell.senate.gov/contact_form.cfm

nDole, Elizabeth- (R - NC)
555 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: dole.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Con
tactInformation.C...



Graham, Lindsey- (R - SC)
290 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: lgraham.senate.gov/index.cfm?mode=contac
t

Chambliss, Saxby- (R - GA)
416 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: chambliss.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?Fu
seAction=ContactU...


Cornyn, John- (R - TX)
517 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: cornyn.senate.gov/contact/index.html


Inhofe, James M.- (R - OK)
453 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: inhofe.senate.gov/contactus.htm

[neoconrcrazy]

Who the he!! is Newt Gingrich to offer opinions on anything?? His fat, bloviating a$$ was sent from Washington in disgrace before, and now he's back like everything's fine??......he's just another GOP scumbag, criminal POS, never served a day of military service, . What a bunch of filth they've become these last 6 years.
Posted by veteran71


totally agree - and what was his role in the Bush War - anyone ask him?

He was over at the Feith False Intel Office 5-6 times before the war checking up on things - this morally corrupt neocon is real bad news - kick his azzz out of Washington again I'd say !

[randalds]

Well, the name calling is alive and well here with the leftists! Gingrich has as much right to put his 2 cents in as you do.

Posted by BIGDADPATRIO at 01:09 AM : May 07, 2007

True, but coming from a thief like Newt his two cents are probably counterfeit.