Why is Nancy Pelosi in Syria? Because George Bush isn't. If he would just do his job, we wouldn't have to send U.S. Representatives to the region to let everyone else know that there are at least some sane people left in the country.
Every sane president has done diplomacy and negotiations with our allies -- and our enemies! Ronald Reagan met with and negotiated with the Soviet Union countless times. And they were the evil empire!
Is Nancy Pelosi, or the three Republican Congressmen that were also in Syria, going to get a deal with Bashar al-Assad? Of course not. But that's not what they're there for. They are there to simply open up a dialogue which can one day lead to a reasonable agreement.
In fact, Israel's Prime Minister asked Pelosi to pass a message along for him. Since Bush the Child is not playing with Assad anymore, Ehud Olmert had to find some way to get a diplomatic message to Syria. So, he chose the one responsible senior US stateswoman going there -- Nancy Pelosi.
Conservatives keep arguing that Assad is a bad guy. Wow, you figured that out, genius? Of course, he's a bad guy. Does that mean the mature, diplomatic thing to do is to turn your back and pretend he doesn't exist? You can hold your breath until you're blue in the face, but Syria and Iran will still be in the region when you come up for air. Just because you wish they weren't there isn't going to make it so.
If you're in any way a capable statesman, you find a way to make deals with your enemies that are to your long term advantage while maintaining short term stability. In other words, the exact opposite of what Bush does. He creates incredible short term instability (the civil war in Iraq) to get to even worse damage in the long run (strengthening Iran by handing them a Shiite partner in Iraq). Come on man, step aside already. If you won't to do the job, let someone else step in.
Fire Cheney already before he starts another war -- and as you can read here, he is definitely trying -- and hire a real statesman. Bring in James Baker. He knows a thing or two about diplomacy. There are hundreds of Republicans left over from the first Bush or even Reagan that know how to handle foreign affairs deftly. Do us all a favor and bring one of them to lead the hapless Bush in another direction. Otherwise, Nancy Pelosi will have to keep doing his job for him.
Podcast The young Turks
Mo Rocca has appeared on a bunch of shows, including 'The Daily Show,' 'I Love the 80s,'...
Mo's Blog Roll
Resources
Nancy Pelosi Has to Do Bush's Job For Him
Posted Apr 4th 2007 2:59PM by Cenk Uygur
Filed under: Iraq, Middle East, George Bush, Young Turks, Democrats, Republicans, GOP, Nancy Pelosi, Syria, Dick Cheney
Add your comments
Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments.
When you enter your name and email address, you'll be sent a link to confirm your comment, and a password. To leave another comment, just use that password.
To create a live link, simply type the URL (including http://) or email address and we will make it a live link for you. You can put up to 3 URLs in your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags.
Mo's Video
The Sound of a Smoke-Free Barack...Almost two years ago we speculated on how Barack Obama's voice would change if he stopped smoking. ...
Most Popular Stories
- Don't Like Goodbyes...
- Pittsburgh Steelers: Is it Time to get some Cheerleaders?
- How NOT to give an Oscar Acceptance Speech
- Could Jim Belushi Win the Nobel Peace Prize?
- Spring Break Sexy T-Shirt Removal Training!
- Quest for the Crown 5: Plastic Wrap to Make you Less Fat!
- Quest for the Crown 4: Work Those Heels!
Most Commented On
-
Coming Soon
Recent Comments
- Lisa on Meet Thomas Beatie, The First Pregnant Man
- Mokele Mbembe on Did 'Sesame Street' Ruin Generation X, or Save It?
- MI on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
- Jerry Brown on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
- Edward Baker on Catholic Church Releases Pedophile Coloring Book
- Botts on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
- Vikki on Did 'Sesame Street' Ruin Generation X, or Save It?
Mo's Bio
Mo Rocca appears on a bunch of shows, including CBS News Sunday Morning (with the indescribably wonderful Charles Osgood), The Tonight Show on NBC, and NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! He's a sometime judge on Iron Chef and was featured on Telemundo's Amore Descarado. Last year he starred on Broadway in the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. His expose "All the President's Pets" was published by Crown in 2004.
Top News Headlines
Political Machine Blog
- Schwarzenegger & Shriver's Daughter Leaves Dressing Room 'In Shambles'
- Labor Unions Move To Reform State Laws
- Young Fort Hood Soldier Reacts: 'I Wanted To Cry, But I Couldn't'
- Obama at Fort Hood: The Slain Will 'Endure Through the Life of Our Nation'
- Medical Group Backs Health Care System Overhaul
- President and Michelle Obama Attend Fort Hood Memorial
- Lynn Sweet Talks Health Care Reform and Senate Vote on CNN
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 5)
1. This trip has become "Foreign Policy, 101" for Teh Nuncy. She's going to lurn wat everyone else already noes about Syria but that an impatient plane ticket couldn't prevent.
What a rookie.
Pelosi said she and her delegation "expressed our concern about Syria's connections to Hezbollah and Hamas" and discussed the issue of militant fights slipping across the Syrian border into Iraq.
"the importance of Syria's role with Hamas in promoting peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis," Pelosi said.
Bush said Pelosi's trip signals that the Assad government is part of the international mainstream when it is not.
"A lot of people have gone to see President Assad ... and yet we haven't seen action. He hasn't responded," Bush said.
Relations between the U.S. and Syria reached a low point in early 2005 when Washington withdrew its ambassador to Damascus to protest the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
Washington has since succeeded in largely isolating Damascus, with its European and Arab allies shunning Assad.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,263864,00.html
What the rookie Speaker doesn't quite get is the fact that Hezbollah shields Assad and Syria from its 6 assassinations of current and former Lebanese prime ministers and other goverment officials who oppose Muslim rule by a proxy army holed up in a sovereign democratic nation that openly permits non-Muslim religions.
This rookie Pelosi is walking embarassment to our country. She is like a level 1 politician hanging out in a zone full of level 70 beasts. What a stooge she is to go in and "ask," like a child, for Assad "to stop!!!" its support for Hezbollah and Hamas. Like he'll...just....like...stop, eh?
This wretched hack Socialist wins elections?!?
Mitch at 3:51PM on Apr 4th 2007
2. This trip has become "Foreign Policy, 101" for Teh Nuncy. She's going to lurn wat everyone else already noes about Syria but that an impatient plane ticket couldn't prevent.
What a rookie.
Pelosi said she and her delegation "expressed our concern about Syria's connections to Hezbollah and Hamas" and discussed the issue of militant fights slipping across the Syrian border into Iraq.
"the importance of Syria's role with Hamas in promoting peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis," Pelosi said.
Bush said Pelosi's trip signals that the Assad government is part of the international mainstream when it is not.
"A lot of people have gone to see President Assad ... and yet we haven't seen action. He hasn't responded," Bush said.
Relations between the U.S. and Syria reached a low point in early 2005 when Washington withdrew its ambassador to Damascus to protest the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
Washington has since succeeded in largely isolating Damascus, with its European and Arab allies shunning Assad.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,263864,00.html
What the rookie Speaker doesn't quite get is the fact that Hezbollah shields Assad and Syria from its 6 assassinations of current and former Lebanese prime ministers and other goverment officials who oppose Muslim rule by a proxy army holed up in a sovereign democratic nation that openly permits non-Muslim religions.
This rookie Pelosi is walking embarassment to our country. She is like a level 1 politician hanging out in a zone full of level 70 beasts. What a stooge she is to go in and "ask," like a child, for Assad "to stop!!!" its support for Hezbollah and Hamas. Like he'll...just....like...stop, eh?
This wretched hack Socialist wins elections?!?
Mitch at 3:51PM on Apr 4th 2007
3. I can only think of one comment for people who critize their President in office, and I cannot type it in because its a profanity. Its people like you that make us look bad to the rest of the world, and I guess you will only learn that when we get attacked here again, when its someone in YOUR family. Good luck to you.
Debbie at 3:51PM on Apr 4th 2007
4. Cink.
Your post seems to indicate that you have no concept of foreign policy. I’m not sure if it is because you are completely dense or if you have such a bad case of Bush Derangement Syndrome that you can no longer think straight. I’m guessing it is later.
You wrote, “In fact, Israel's Prime Minister asked Pelosi to pass a message along for him. Since Bush the Child is not playing with Assad anymore, Ehud Olmert had to find some way to get a diplomatic message to Syria. So, he chose the one responsible senior US stateswoman going there -- Nancy Pelosi.” This is an utterly iddotic statement. Do you really believe that Israel needs Pelosi to bring a message to Syria? These two countries have had no problem communicating with eachother when they have needed to. And the so called message was nothing more then a common diplomatic nicity, not an important communication.
It is also nieve to think that Syria and the United States do not have any communitation. What they don’t have is high level personal communication of the sort that Pelosi is participating in. Nations like Syria like these types of visita because they affirm the legitimacy of their despotic nations.
You also seem to adopt the simplistic idea that all nations can be negociated with. As history instructs, that is simply not the case. In order to achieve peace through negociations your adversary needs to be honestly seeking peace. If that is not the case, any negociattiosans will likely do more harm than good. Remember Chamberlain achieveing peace in our time.
The Bush Administration has come to the conclusion that Syria is not an honest partner for peace, so the type of visit Pelosi is making will do nothing more than aid in the legitimacy of Syria at the expense of American interests. While you may disagree with this position, it is based on world events and is certainly not “childless.” By calling it such you state more about your awn inanity than Bush’s policy
Greg at 4:25PM on Apr 4th 2007
5. ANYONE WHO THINKS THAT NANCY PELOSI ISN'T DOING SOMETHING REASONABLE AND RESPONSIBLE HAS BEEN BRAINWASHED BY THE BU$HIT FED THEM. BU$H AND HIS ADMINISTRATION ARE THE BIGGEST THREAT TO WORLD UNITY AND PEACE. HE IS IN THIS WAR FOR HIS LEGACY AND PURE UNADULTERATED GREED.
ANN at 4:43PM on Apr 4th 2007
6. Amen Nancy!!
Joe at 4:59PM on Apr 4th 2007
7. Fantastic post and I am in total agreement with you. To quote Michael Keaton in his role in "Live From Baghdad".... "When we stop talking people start dying."
shelly mccarthy at 5:26PM on Apr 4th 2007
8. Pelosi's trip to Syria is dangerous and undercuts President Bush's policies. She went to Syria against WH advice. She has no idea what she is doing.
Jeffrey Myers at 5:30PM on Apr 4th 2007
9. What a perfect way of stating the facts, "Nancy Pelosi doing the Presidents Job. Keep Bush/Cheney out of it for they are the biggest threat to world peace.
Ski at 5:39PM on Apr 4th 2007
10. Should't the USA work on our 50%+ divorce rate before we consider seeking WORLD PEACE!
Kevin Mezies at 6:49PM on Apr 4th 2007
11. PELOSI IS A LOOSE CANNON, SHE NEEDS TO BE LASHED TO THE DECK BEFORE SHE FIRES ON HER OWN-SHIP.
prossers7 at 6:55PM on Apr 4th 2007
12. I have yet to hear from Bushie as to the three (3) GOP Congressmen that were in Syria 2 days before Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Why all the hypocracy? As always the GOP can do whatever they want. This what is known as 'do as say not as I do'. Bushie and his cohorts had better find another avenue to attack. Pelosi is not going anywhere. As a matter of fact Bushie and Cheney boy better watch out. They might be on the outside looking in. Pelosi might be the first woman President before 2008. As usual this corrupt regime likes throwing stones at glass houses. Like in South America, Bushie the COWARD that we all know that he is would not have a dialogue with anyone that "HE" didn't approve of. Ref: Hugo Chavez. The same is true in the Middle East. Bushie will not meet, again because of the COWARD that he is and everyone knows it. Pelosi and the three Congressmen before her that met in Syria are to be commended. The showed determination and plain "guts'. Something that Bushie has none of.
Ray at 6:58PM on Apr 4th 2007
13. This guy is off his ass Nancy Pelosi is just trying to act like anyone over there cares what she has to say. She is a propagandist. She was so proud of being the first woman speaker but would be goose stepping in Germany and should have just put on a damn brukah and acted as subservient as the local women and just shut her damn mouth. She wasn't elected to try and run foreign policy she was elected and wrongfully placed in a position of leadership to sit in washington and pander to the liberals who think the election is the mandaite. They dems have forgotten not to overstep but then I guess thats good for the country because they will lose in 08 and not regain the power they desire.
Daniel at 7:01PM on Apr 4th 2007
14. SOUNDS LIKE A DUMBASS LIBERAL, WHO WOULD PUT THIS COUNTRY AT RISK. IF YOU PEOPLE HAVE A SOLUTION THEN WHY THE HELL DON'T YOU JUST COME OUT WITH IT.
WE ARE ONE COUNTRY, WE SHOULD BE IN IT TOGETHER FOR THE SAFETY & FREEDOM WE DESERVE. BUT ALL YOU GUYS WANT TO DO IS COMPLAIN & POINT FINGERS. NOT HELP SOLVE THE PROBLEMS JUST CREATE MORE FOR OUR CHILDREN & THIER CHILDREN. I THINK PRES. BUSH IS A WONDERFUL, GOD LOVING & FEARING MAN. WHO HAS DONE ONE HELL OF A JOB. CONSIDERING THE MESS MR. CLINTON LEFT US, 911, KATRINA & IRAQ. THE ECONOMY IS STRONG, HE PULLED US THROUGH, BUT WHEN YOU LIBERAL BLEEDING HEARTS ARE DONE WE'LL BE BROKE & IN ANOTHER RECESSION. HISTORY WILL SHOW WHEN A DEMOCRAT COMES IN AFTER A REPUBLICAN HE INHERIATES
A STRONG ECONOMY, BUT IT TAKES A REPUBLICAN TO CLEAN IT UP & PUT US BACK ON OUR FEET AFTER THE DEMOCRATE HAS LEFT OFFICE. HE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF PROTECTING US! I WOULD RATHER KEPT THE BOMBING OVER THERE THEN HAVE IT HERE IN OUR STREETS, BUT I BELIEVE YOU ASSHOLES REALLY WANT TO SEE IT HAPPEN HERE. IF THIS COUNTRY DOESN'T WAKE UP & THE DEMO'S DO GET FULL CONTROL IT JUST MAY HAPPEN, GOD FORBID, I LOVE THIS COUNTRY! I WISH PEOPLE LIKE YOU WOULD STOP WITH YOUR BULL----.
GL856 at 7:04PM on Apr 4th 2007
15. I see some folks who go to bed each night crying that Al Gore is not our President saying that the "GOP made a visit to Syria and no one said a word. I would point out that President Bush is Republican and so visits by GOP Congressmen would make sense. The oposition party of Dems visiting only confuses Syria as to who is on charge and the last time I looked President Bush is still out President....until Mit takes over. Sleep well my liberal friends.
Bob
Bob at 7:08PM on Apr 4th 2007