Bush berated by Republicans in private, candid WH meeting
 

NBC: 11 Republicans Berate Bush Over Iraq In Private White House Meeting »

In a sign of the growing fissure between the White House and its congressional allies over the war, NBC News reports tonight that 11 Republican members of Congress pleaded yesterday with President Bush and his senior aides to change course in Iraq.

The group of Republicans was led by Reps. Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Charlie Dent (R-PA), and the meeting included Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Karl Rove, and Tony Snow. One member of Congress called the discussion the “most unvarnished conversation they’ve ever had with the president,” and NBC’s Tim Russert said it “may have been a defining pivotal moment” in the Iraq debate.


Russert described the conversation:

[O]ne said “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 congressman then went on to say, “The word about the war and its progress cannot come from the White House or even you, Mr. President. There is no longer any credibility. It has to come from Gen. Petraeus.” The meeting lasted an hour and 15 minutes and was, in the words of one, “remarkable for the bluntness and no-holds-barred honesty in the message delivered by all these Republican congressmen.”

watch the report here

Re: Bush berated by Republicans in private, candid WH meeting
 

These so-called "moderates" are misreading the political landscape. The wheel of fortune is turning back in the Republicans favor. The casually uninformed are quickly becoming disenchanted with the shrill rhetoric and impotent gestures coming from the Dems. The faces of the Dem party are far from charismatic and telegenic. ""The Mask" Pelosi, "Elmer Fudd" Reid et. al. grow tiresome quickly on television. The more shrill Pelosi becomes in public pronouncements, the more rapidly the Dems will hang themselves with their own rope.

Re: Bush berated by Republicans in private, candid WH meeting
 

lol... what a pathetic attempt at spin... yes, yes... the 'wheel of fortune' is turning back..... keep dreaming...

tomorrow is a new day... reality can still be yours

Re: Bush berated by Republicans in private, candid WH meeting
 

Not sure that George has the will or aptitude to listen to anyone right now except for his atta boy backslapping inner circle. He has not shown any ability to consider any other position or point of view, and these guys will just be dismissed as GOP'ers who are fearful of not getting elected, not people who should be listened to. IMO his greatest downfall has been to make decisions without dissenting voices and just listen to those close to him, the dissension route is more cumbersome and unwieldy, however a better way to go.

Re: Bush berated by Republicans in private, candid WH meeting
 

Just goes to show that aome pubbies are political cowards who put politics above principle.

Re: Bush berated by Republicans in private, candid WH meeting
 

You are an interesting example of why some people are a day late and a dollar short when it comes to business, politics and life. You are seeing yesterday's trend instead of tomorrow's.

Re: Bush berated by Republicans in private, candid WH meeting
 

Re: Bush berated by Republicans in private, candid WH meeting
 

This should be a red flag for any die hard Bush supporter. Eleven Republican congressmen tell Bush he has no credibility for the Iraq War. I am betting that there are more Republicans who share that thought that did not make the trip. Meanwhile, as Bush continues to veto any effort to end the war the Republican party will continue to lose support and ultimately filibuster numbers.

Re: Bush berated by Republicans in private, candid WH meeting
 

It's too bad people didn't do this a couple of years ago. Party over principle. How long have I been talking about that? The only reason these clowns are barking is because their job is on the line. The order goes job first, party second, fill in the blank 3rd, and principle somewhere near the back of the bus. Crap, principle is probably tied down with some bungie cord on the roof rack during a thunderstorm. :(

Anyhow, as for the "wheel of fortune" thing, momentum has always been, and will always continue to be cyclical. The Dems ran a campaign that simply pointed a finger, and said "hey, we're not those guys", and won convincingly. The problem with running that way is that it gets you elected, but it turns on you real quick when you have no platform, identity, or purpose upon taking control. I tried to explain this to someone yesterday regarding the next president, and how he/she won't have an easy time simply because they'd be following a 30%'er. Look at the numbers for the GOP and the Dems, the Dems are loosing luster, and loosing it fast. Why? Cuz they suck just as much as the people they pointed their fingers at. They are all the same people.

Re: Bush berated by Republicans in private, candid WH meeting
 

Harry, I guess you've noticed that too eh? ;)