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Syria, a recognized state sponsor of terrorism, is welcoming a delegation of Representatives led by Nancy Pelosi. As if it were her job to dictate foreign policy the Bush Administration (which it’s not), the Speaker says she’s there in the hopes of reviving US relations with Syria and changing its behavior. But, not only is Pelosie wrong. So are Republican Representatives Frank Wolf, Joe Pitts, and Robert Aderholt for going against administration policy.
The job of the Speaker of the House is not to administer or change foreign policy. The job is to preside over the House, set the calendar for introduction of legislation, debate and votes and perform general administrative duties. The Speaker acts as leader of the House and combines several roles: the institutional role of presiding officer and administrative head of the House, the partisan role of leader of the majority party in the House, and the representative role of an elected Member of the House. The job of every member of Congress is to support the current President’s foreign policy abroad and debate it at home. To do otherwise, and take friendly trips to state sponsors of terrorism, undermines our national interests and weakens this country. Even if you think Bush is completely wrong, you don’t go to the enemy and tell them that Bush is wrong and we support you – please change or hand on another two years.
The delegation would have us believe they’re on a “fact-finding mission”. If they want the facts, they should head to Iraq and spend some time with the troops who are being killed by Syria’s hitmen and terrorists. Not talking to the terrorist kingpin. All this while the Democrats are finally showing their true colors by cutting off funds to the troops.
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I am posting this in case someone by the name of susan just goes to th
Beth A.
Someone please wake me up. This has got to be a dream; I’ll catch a passing unicorn named Fred any minute now, ride into the daylight, and be all tucked up safe in my jammies in time to get up, yawn, pour me some juice and Raisin Bran to start my day and shake this off.
No? No. Nightmare, then. What the…what are they trying to do to our troops???
Pelosi should be keel-hauled and run out of DC on a rail. What has happened to the concept of treason?
nazar
Although we’re technically not at war with Syria, Pelosi’s actions remind me of what Jane Fonda did in 1972.
Pelosi’s actions are unbefitting of a United States Representative, much less the Speaker of the House.
CriticalFacts
Nazar and Beth,
I find it interesting your comments mention only Pelosi, when three republican representatives visited a week or so earlier. Your comments would be better received had you directed your disagreement at all four.
Personally, I hope that something good comes out of the visits. Cannot get much worse, that’s for sure.
nazar
I mentioned Pelosi because she was the subject of the post-”Speaker Leads Delegation To Syria.” The Republicans who went are just as contemptible as she is, but they weren’t the subject of the post, which is why I didn’t mention them.
Also, you are wrong in assuming that it can’t get much worse. Things like these not only undermine our president’s foreign policy (which you or may not agree with), but they also send a message to our enemies that we’re divided and weakened. This will only embolden them.
Make no mistake my friend, Syria is our enemy.
CJ
CF, I agree. If we’re going to condemn Pelosi, we need to condemn the other three I mentioned in the main post. They’re ALL wrong. Bush specifically asked them not to go and they did anyway.
The liberal press is also complaining that U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Ellen Sauerbrey held talks with a senior Syrian diplomat on how Damascus was coping with a flood of Iraqi refugees, the first such talks in the Syrian capital for more than two years. Let’s remember that this is what the Department of State is SUPPOSED to do, Democrat or Republican – not Congress! There’s a big difference between diplomats and politicians.
PatrioticMom
CJ,
Pelosi, and the likes of all of them, are behaving like teenagers; doing things that have consequences without realizing the true gravity of their actions. It’s shameful and puts every American, Service Member, and bi-partison individual in the position to look like groveling morons. *shaking head, rolling eyes*.
leslie in Pa
Tell me just what do they all have to say to Syria? I wish we could all come together for our country but it seems like things are just getting worse and worse.
I can’t imagine what other countries think of all of this division between party lines, and with the election over a year away I am already so sick of all the media coverage, and not to mention the amount of money being raised. We should be like Europe, set a limit for every person, the same amount.
Ok, I don’t know how I got on that, it’s late….sorry, good night!
Donna
This makes me sick. Why in the world would these so called leaders go to Syria when President Bush asked them not to. I think it’s for that specific reason. They hate President Bush and all that he stands for, so if he is against it, they are for it! It’s a political game that hurting both our country and our troops!
Shame on the democrats for cutting off funds to our troops!
CriticalFacts
Pelosi might just accomplish something by going to Syria. Lord knows the alternatives – e.g., the neocon agenda of spreading democracy throughout the middle east by invading Iraq – have accomplished very little, and have probably made things far worse – e.g., creating an insurgency of hatred for the west that never existed prior to the invasion.
I say give Pelosi a chance. Besides, she may just be president of the US someday!
Chad
Pelosi might actually accomplish something by going to Syria??? Pass whatever you are smoking down because I want some too!! President of the US??? Oh for sure!!! Please pass whatever the hell you are smoking down this way. I need to be flying on the same cloud you are. Holy sweet mother of pearl………..
CJ
Oh, CF. Now that I’ve got stomach cramps from laughing at the “she may just be president” comment, I’ll address the hatred issue. With great respect, it’s a little naive and ignorant to say that hatred for the west never existed prior to the Iraq invasion. The USS Cole, WTC bombings (both of them), embassy bombings, barracks bombings, etc weren’t acts of extreme love. It’s not a “this is going to hurt me more than you” type thing. Again, I’m not calling you ignorant, just that your comment was.
Beth A.
CF,
It isn’t her job to go to Syria. Period. What she did was well nye treasonous behavior and not in keeping with the honor of her position as Speaker of the House. As for becoming President – not blasted likely. Not based on standards of behavior such as she has, and continues to, exhibit.
Interesting? It’s ‘interesting’ that you would think otherwise. However, how you ‘receive’ my comments is a matter of little import.
CriticalFacts
I may be an angry liberal, but I am not beyond offering my conservative friends a bit of humor from time to time.
Ymarsakar
I say give Pelosi a chance. Besides, she may just be president of the US someday!
She can be President right this moment if she can get Asad and Amanie to kill off Bush and Cheney.
Ymarsakar
I think this is all about unity. Whether people believe in the Rule of Law or just the Rule of Personal Whims. Whether they believe in Unity or Factionalism. Decadence of ethics. Strength or weakness. A lot of choices for people, many upon many.
It used to be that people thought it was a good thing for the President that they helped elect or a President elected through a process they participated in, to lead the nation as a unified whole with outside enemies and allies, potential or actual. Now a days, people are more interested in their own little ambitions and side-quests. To the extent that they no longer want to carry anyone else’s water unless they personally benefit. Such short-sighted and anti-tradition positions promote entropy and the further decay of American institutions, traditions, and power.
Just look at Iraq for the End-Game. Every tribe and clan and whatever religious group out for himself. Every ganglord and criminal network acting for their own petty interests and greeds. The Left is anti-military and anti-establishment for a reason. Without the strong structural support of the US Constitution (Bill of Rights) and the strong temporal power protecting the US Constitution (US Military), the whole system will fall down from the inside out.
Just look at Britain and France for an example of the end of the beginning of entropy. It is a lot easier to stop entropy (a sort of bad habit) when it is small and non-expansionary. Easier with cancer, easier with stupidity, and easier with childhood learning to start early with the goodness.
Nothing good comes from factionalism, weakness, and disunity. Even a bad battle plan gets worse when people are infighting. (Anyone ever see what happened to a division that was trapped by the enemy, and they started holding elections and votes?)
There’s a reason after all why non-democracies (the military) are required to protect democracies. You want to have chaos and new blood, but not too much chaos. That is what the discipline and the structure is for, the foundation is to hold you against the Winds of Disbelief, aka Nihilism and Anarchy.
CriticalFacts
Well, here’s Republican congressman Frank Wolf said about his recent visit to Syria:
“I don’t care what the administration says on this. You’ve got to do what you think is in the best interest of your country …. I want us to be successful in Iraq. I want us to clamp down on Hezbollah.”
Reading between the lines, I guess it’s fair to believe the good Republican Rep. Wolf further stated: Go to hell Bush/Cheney. Your beloved rubber-stamp congress is no more! You’ve done enough damage already!
CJ
It’s more likely that reading between the lines one hears this: “I think I know better than the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES and as a Congressman I’m going to overstep my bounds and do whatever I want.”