1. I hope that all of you in the 30% crowd who support President Bush, this war, and in particular our "new way forward with the surge" are proud of yourselves now.

As you continue to babble about Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats working double time to fulfill the will of 70% of the American people, as you change your soundbyte from "godless liberal" to "traitors," I hope you've taken a break to hear the news. Al Sadr has ordered the Mahdi Army to turn on Americans instead of Sunnis, and the Sunnis will soon follow their example.

Time Magazine predicted it all. The Sadrists would welcome our "surge" troops into the neighborhood, but it was unlikely the Sunnis would stop attacking the Shiites. Time speculated that the Sadrists cooperation may be strained if this happened. Its happened.

What will happen now is the whole 20 million population will turn on our troops - there will be no friends in the crowd. Since our troops have been sent, with your approval, without adequate rest between endless deployments or without adequate training if they are new military or reserve units, they won't have the tools on energy they normally would have to at least make less American military blood flow. If it goes on long enough, the almost totally Shiite Iraqi Army will turn on your troops.

Bush and you 30% Neo-Nazi group of supporters are big on "support our troop" bumper stickers, and run to call anyone who tries to stop this fiasco "traitors" while your small minority are true "patriots." Your ideological track record does not attest to your intelligence, considering what we've all seen for four years. But, in your minds, 70% of America are "traitors."

You're also hypocritical. In no way, shape or form do you "support our troops." If you did your focus would be on getting them out of this no win situation and bloodbath so thousands of them don't have to die because Bush and y'all don't have the brains to consider the long term results of the actions you support. You all kept quiet when your Republican congress cut troop benefits, kept quiet when Bush tried to hide the flag draped caskets of your victims, and have kept quiet about the atrocious medical care our wounded troops get when they return home. You also had no problem sending exhausted or untrained troops to die in support of your fantasy.

If you're the true patriots in this country we're in deep trouble. For those of you who are non-disabled and under 40, if you really want to support our troops, get away from the keyboard, enlist, and get over their as fast as you can and support our troops with your lives, not your keyboards. I'm surprised Dinesh hasn't volunteered.

Phil at 9:08AM on Apr 9th 2007

2. Here, I would caution against thinking that correlation and causation are the same thing.

Certainly, Pelosi's Syrian exercise would raise her (and the rest of her party's) profile, but is that evidence enough to conclude her trip was entirely political?

Pete at 10:56AM on Apr 9th 2007

3. As a 30 year military vet and retiree with 2 sons in the fight right along with other family members I think the plastic surgery queen hasx done a great diservice to this country. We have one commander and chief period! She may get away with running her home and the house and get her way, but the world is a big place, she does not have the stomach for the barberic and ruthless people who govern some of these countries like syria. If she were just a woman there she'd have no rights at all, she could be stoned for not obeying her husbands wishes. Or better yet as we have seen in Baghdad turned into a S/bomber herself. No way could she have gone to a school or owned a business with out some sort of part ownership by her husband or the government. So she gos there with her arms open in peace? What did she talk about in peace? Stop killing innocent iraqies? or just the innocent? or control your borders? 7 more people died today doing that on our side Ms Speaker! Do you hate the president that much that you would put my children in harms way to satisfy your thirst for power. The elections are 2 years away. By the way Your agenda you speak of was not unveiled to the public until after the election. The American public of which I am and who did vote the republican majority out wanted a change but not in the way your going. We wanted honesty, a congress that got along, no more earmarks!!! or pork!!! and to finish this was war the right way with honor. Stop the political crap and be american first which means do the right thing not the left or the right or center wing but the right thing for this country. Stop the crap on the house floor all viewers should watch CSPAN and SEE what our new majority has done in the past few months, the same thing as the republican did. nothing. I task all Americans and especially Vets get ahold of the Democrats from your states and let them know your fed up with this crap and as for the republicans it's a shame that after 8 years in power not one amoung you has risen to the challenge of leadership. A true leader does not lead from inside a hole or behind a mask of of the next election cycle. He must always be a leader and show it. Sorry guys and ladies you have no one, war heros included who fits that profile. I'd vote for the General who helped with Katrina before I'd give a dime to the whole mess of current candidates. He tried to get the job done and kept on trying, even when the busies told him they had it covered. So Ms speaker you made a mistake in my book , but not one that can't be corrected. Hopefully you can adjust your course and the american military will not be your diplomatic training ground and the Deals you made wsill not cost my sons or any other americans there lives.

Jesse at 9:16AM on Apr 10th 2007

4. First of all, to insinuate that Nancy Pelosi did something along the lines of the Apostle Paul is outrageous. Thanks for connotating this liberal democrat akin to a christian saint. Absurd. Then again, maybe you made the comment to show the absurdity. Americans are so quick to pick up and scream for the easy fix. That's our society. Still, the House Speaker talking to people who probably danced and partied while the twin towers fell and Americans got killed makes me puke. She's not interested in American interests. She's interested in furthering miserable Democratic agenda. Probably would have been better off if she had become barefoot and pregnant. Alot.

Ed at 4:37PM on Apr 10th 2007

5. 953. Private correspondence with foreign governments.
Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United States, directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or of any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.
This section shall not abridge the right of a citizen to apply himself, or his agent, to any foreign government, or the agents thereof, for redress of any injury which he may have sustained from such government or any of its agents or subjects.
18 U.S.C. § 953 (2004).

If politicians were held accountable, you and your gaggle of treasonous scum would find yourselves in prison upon return. Please make sure you have many televised propaganda meetings with the terrorist sponsoring idiot assad so our troops in harms way can see you standing with the enemy. Taking along Ellison was a master stroke. Are we going to get to see pictures/video of him entering a mosque and praying with his brethren? There isn't anything you won't do is there Madam Speaker, to undermine the President and our Military? I truly thought that declaration of surrender congress upchucked was it, but by God, you have outdone yourselves with this trip to visit our enemies during war. If only we still prosecuted treason. If only.

New Braunfels , TX

Randytall at 6:06PM on Apr 10th 2007