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.
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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
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46. People like GL856 who commented about Clinton have their information all wrong. Clinton was not the cause of 911, Katrina and Iraq. They were the result of your"wonderful" President Bush, who can't think beyond himself. I think it is great that Nancy Peloski went to Syria (after a Republican visit) who you never hear of. A woman's touch or advice would be more welcome than those harsh, unfeeling words and actions of Bush and his advisers have to say. Bush is the one who should stay at home and keep his mouth shut and let Nancy do his job. Go Nancy, you are so RIGHT.
Jean at 11:33AM on Apr 5th 2007
47. WANT AD:
Wanted: CEO to Conduct USA Foreign Policy and be Commander in Chief.
Requirements: Bring along about $100 million dollars, and be prepared to be on call 24/7 for the next 13 months during a campaign process.
Selection Process:
The American People will let you know by February 2008 if you made the cut. Serious candidates who expect to win must be active through Nov 2008.
Serious Candidates may express ideas, but are not authorized to conduct Foreign Policy or be Commander in Chief until elected.
If you have questions, kindly refer to the written job description, which can be found in the Constitution of the United States.
Bob at 4:09PM on Apr 5th 2007
48. My Oh My! you must have stayed up all night to get this spin story written. I read everyones blog and you get the prize! I can truly enjoy a good tale, but this one gets top rating. truly pathetic,but the pelosi people will like it and by the time they get back they will even believe it. Oh by the way why dont you liberal pimps get your stories straight. you come up with these fairy tales so much you actually believe them!I for one am a republican. The hideous conspiracy theories and how much better it would be if a democrat was president. If bush and rowe were all that powerful people like you would be in trash bags in a landfill
stoker at 11:27PM on May 13th 2008
49. Democrats are the majority party.
Thanks for '06 all you hate filled repubs.
Thanks again for '08!
Ciao
murdermeditations at 8:59AM on Apr 6th 2007
50. 27. U.S. Congressman Darrell Issa meets Syrian president in Damascus
The Associated PressPublished: April 5, 2007
DAMASCUS, Syria: A U.S. Republican congressman met President Bashar Assad on Thursday, a day after a visit by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, spurning the White House policy of isolating the Syrian leadership.
Congressman Darrell Issa of California said U.S. President George W. Bush had failed to promote the dialogue that is necessary to resolve disagreements between the United States and Syria.
"That's an important message to realize: We have tensions, but we have two functioning embassies," Issa told reporters after separate meetings with Assad and Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem.
Issa, a Lebanese-American who frequently travels to the Middle East, said he and other members of Congress would continue to encourage the Bush administration to engage Syria.
"I have no illusions. We have serious problems to be resolved but we will resolve them," he said.
Assad and Issa discussed "the mechanisms and means that must be available to build a solid U.S.-Syrian relationship," the official Syrian Arab News Agency reported.
Foreign Minister al-Moallem stressed Syria's keenness to talk to the U.S. and said the congressional visits helped to "formulate a joint vision for finding solutions to the problems in the region," SANA reported.
Bush sharply criticized Pelosi, a Californian Democrat, for calling on Assad, saying her visit eased the country's isolation. However, his administration stayed relatively quiet about a similar visit days earlier by a three-man Republican delegation.
Pelosi said the congressional visits were an "excellent idea" and said she was hopeful that Syrian-U.S. confidence could be restored through dialogue.
Pelosi's visit followed one by three congressmen from Bush's own party who also met with Syria's leaders.
"I don't care what the administration says on this. You gotta do what you think is in the best interest of your country," said Rep. Frank Wolf of Virginia, who was part of the delegation.
Tim at 11:27AM on Apr 6th 2007
51.
NANCY IS OBVIOUSLY MENTALLY IMPARIED AND UNFIT FOR THE JOB SHE IS IN!!!
I FEEL SO SORRY FOR HER HAVING THE ADDITTIONAL AFFLICTION OF JANE FONDAITIS DISEASE, FOR WHICH THERE IS NO CURE.
NANCY DON'T FORGET THE PHOTO OP OF YOU BEHIND A SYRIAN MACHINE GUN. NOW THAT WOULD TOP HANOI JANES NVA ANTI AIRCRAFT POSE.
STEVE at 12:45PM on Apr 6th 2007
52.
NANCY IS OBVIOUSLY MENTALLY IMPARIED AND UNFIT FOR THE JOB SHE IS IN!!!
I FEEL SO SORRY FOR HER HAVING THE ADDITTIONAL AFFLICTION OF JANE FONDAITIS DISEASE, FOR WHICH THERE IS NO CURE.
NANCY DON'T FORGET THE PHOTO OP OF YOU BEHIND A SYRIAN MACHINE GUN. NOW THAT WOULD TOP HANOI JANES NVA ANTI AIRCRAFT POSE.
STEVE at 4:36PM on Apr 6th 2007
53. What about the Republican delegation of congress that just went to Syria? Funny how you call liberal’s hypocrites. When a hypocrite calls someone a hypocrite using hypocrocy, what does that make them? That must be why many conservatives in this class don’t consider themselves hypocrites. They just figure the two instences of hypocrisy cancel each other out.
Sure seems like there are a lot of computer literate parrots out there who are stuck watching FOX NEWS.
Republicant at 2:47PM on Apr 6th 2007
54. As one woman to another it is plain to me that Nancy Peloski is caught up in her own fame and fortune. What in the world good did she think a woman could do among Muslims? Please everyone open your eyes, think with your brain. Peloski knows nothing about our efforts in intelligence and what is going on that is behind the scenes. Another Jane Fonda with a title is what I see.
Dianne at 3:42PM on Apr 6th 2007
55. As a woman who grew up in the age of the so called liberation of womens right, I am appalled by the actions of Ms. Pelosi. From a child we each have been taught that when a person in authority says "no", it means NO! Guess Ms. Pelosi missed that lesson from her parents. The greatest elected authority in our nation is the President. And our President told Ms. Pelosi "NO" to her vacation on the sunny sands of Syria. But did she listen? NO! Instead she dressed her smug superior little self in a scarf and headed to that terrorist nation where she, with her ever pasted on smile, would speak to their terrorist and murderous leader. Remarkable that a so called "womens rights" leader would feel such an imperative to go to such a mental beast as the leader of Syria where their women only have the right to strap on a bomb and blow themselves up! Maybe Ms. Pelosi should have volunteered to take the place of one of those endangered women. Now that would have been worth her trip that we tax payers paid for. Guess that's why she wants to increase our taxes. Hmmmm!
Bonnie at 6:55PM on Apr 6th 2007
56. Since when has syria, become our ally? She (Pelosi) is house speaker. Please stay at the house! She hasn't been elected to perform foreign policies rewiting. She needs to stick to her job and thats not what she has been doing. Even if she felt compelled to do this she has made the chain of command look bad and brought discredit to our country. If any of us did this in the private sector "what she has done" we would be looking for new jobs. All the dust hasn't settled, but when it does it will reveal how much of a grandstanding idiot she really is. The people of the US are not ignorant and be sure her undermining of our established foreign policies isn't the best method for receiving positive voter feedback
Barry at 7:28PM on Apr 6th 2007
57. we have rosie o'bin, hanoi joy, elizabeth dog tail, barbara who, and now we have a wonderful representative speaker of the house , who knows all from that wonderful city san fran...nancy traitor, i rest my case
doris at 9:00AM on Apr 7th 2007
58. Pelosi's trip to Syria is dangerous and undercuts President Bush's policies---???
NONE of Bush's policies are working!!!
Totally agree with:
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
Jean at 2:25PM on Apr 7th 2007
59. People people fist who are we to deterimne who ias good or bad people around the world have the same view of this country. Speaker Peloski is in a no wim situation just like our troops and sometimes action is better than reaction its not like this county leads the world in doing right. I hate talking politics but as a someone who has been in every major conflict our country has been in sance 1985 I feel it time for this country to take a look at it self. Oh yeah Brazil is great today.
Lief Erickson at 4:51PM on Apr 7th 2007
60. Pelosi had to do what Bush should have done years ago. US foreign relations have never been as bad as they are now under Bush.
We need to thank Pelosi for taking the initiative.
Bush - try him for crimes against humanity.
Marvin at 5:17PM on Apr 7th 2007