LaHood: Bush ‘Surprised,’ ‘Sobered’ Over GOP Frustration About Iraq

[babylonsister]

Wow, something finally sobered him up?


http://thinkprogress.org/2007/05/10/lahood-on-iraq/

LaHood: Bush ‘Surprised,’ ‘Sobered’ Over GOP Frustration About Iraq

This morning on CNN, Rep. Ray LaHood (R-IL) — one of 11 Republican members to have recently visited the White House and plead with President Bush to change course in Iraq — described the meeting as “unvarnished, about as frank and honest as I have ever been to at the White House.” Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA) told Bush at the meeting that the president’s approval rating was at 5 percent in one section of his northern Virginia district.

LaHood further added that Bush was taken aback by the concerns expressed by the congressional delegation. “He listened very carefully. I think he was a little — I don’t know if surprised is the right word, probably maybe sobered,” LaHood said. “The fact is that, I don’t know if he’s gotten that kind of opinion before in such a frank and no holds barred way but he was very sober about it and he listened very intently.” Watch it at link~

LaHood said the congressional delegation expressed concern about the political impact that Iraq is having on their congressional districts. “People are very war weary and that’s going to be reflected in peoples’ opinions, much stronger in the fall, I believe.”

But when asked how he would react to a “negative report” by Gen. David Petraeus in the fall, LaHood left open the possibility that he would continue to support the current course. “It depends on what Petraeus says. I mean if we are making some progress and we need to move ahead more aggressively — it will — for me, it’s going to depend on what he says in terms of where we’re at and what the way forward looks like in terms of success.”

Transcript:

JOHN ROBERTS: Ray Lahood, your fellow Congressmen Tom Davis said that this was a remarkable, very candid meeting. What words would you use to describe it?

REP. RAY LAHOOD (R) ILLINOIS: Unvarnished, about as frank and honest as I have ever been to at the White House. I’ve been to a lot of meetings, most of them on the war and members really told the president in I think the most unvarnished way that they possibly could that things have got to change, that we’re going to hang with him until September, but we need an honest assessment in September and that peoples’ patience is running very, very, very thin.

ROBERTS: So are you hearing that back from the congressional districts? Is this pressure being put on you by your constituents?

LAHOOD: There were 11 members there and I think each member expressed in a little different way, but the theme was the same — the American people are war fatigued. The American people want to know that there’s a way out. The American people want to know that we’re having success, either the government or our men and women who are doing the hard work. It’s not reflected on the television screens and it’s not reflected in the numbers, particularly as the surge begins. People are very war weary and that’s going to be reflected in peoples’ opinions, much stronger in the fall, I believe.

ROBERTS: Congressman Lahood, what was the president’s reaction to what you told him?

LAHOOD: He listened very carefully. I think he was a little — I don’t know if surprised is the right word, probably maybe sobered. The fact is that, I don’t know if he’s gotten that kind of opinion before in such a frank and no holds barred way but he was very sober about it and he listened very intently. Frankly, he wasn’t defensive. I think he appreciated the fact that people were willing to really open up and give it to him.

ROBERTS: Let me ask you this question, Congressman Lahood. There’s a possibility, of course, that this so-called surge works and General Petraeus reports back at the end of August or the beginning of September that things are getting better. But if he reports back that things are not better, what happens then? Does the bottom drop out of support for the president?

LAHOOD: I would think that the situation becomes very dicey. I think public opinion probably turns even worse than it is, even though some of us believe that it’s about as bad as it gets. But —

ROBERTS: But what about you? Could you continue to support him on the war if Petraeus comes back with a negative report?

LAHOOD: It depends on what Petraeus says. I mean if we are making some progress and we need to move ahead more aggressively — it will — for me, it’s going to depend on what he says in terms of where we’re at and what the way forward looks like in terms of success. The other part of it is people are very frustrated with the Maliki government. And people wonder whether Maliki can really get his act together and really pull off — make this government work. And part of the reason Cheney is over there is to make sure they don’t take two months off which is a great source of irritation for people.

ROBERTS: Congressman Lahood, we thank you very much for your time. We thank you for your candor with us, very much appreciate it sir.

[displacedtexan]

1. Sobered?

Telling, no?

[rurallib]

2. Interesting choice of a word

[Virginia Dare]

7. It is, maybe in reference to him being drunk on power...

rather than literally drunk, which he most certainly is.

[rurallib]

9. That was my thought

just kind of an ironic word to use with Bush

[Donnachaidh]

3. Sobered? Doubtful.

My bet's on locking up the liquor cabinet by Laura and the re-appearance of the hula jaw syndrome.

[mike_c]

5. only until everyone left....

"I need a stiff one, Condi."

"Me too, Mr. President."

[soothsayer]

6. That's what I was thinking! I hear * wakes up about 6 a.m., takes some pills

and a shot, gets out on the road for some exercise, stumbles through his day, starts driking about 3, is functionally incapacitated by 5, and passes out between 6 and 8 pm. Cheney rises from his coffin at sunset, slithers from his crypt and becomes the functional prezzy from his bunker under the WH from 6 pm to 6 am. Nightime here but daytime in Iraq.

[Virginia Dare]

4. Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA) told Bush at the meeting ...

that the president’s approval rating was at 5 percent in one section of his northern Virginia district.....:wow: :rofl:

[rodeodance]

13. Davis is the one who makes fun/mockes the AG hearings

[Virginia Dare]

15. Yes, he's my Congresstool...

he's in real trouble in his district, which is leaning increasingly Democratic. He has grandiose visions of running for Senate when Warner retires, and his wife, who is a state delegate will step into his shoes. The dream may be starting to tarnish, she's had some problems reconciling with the southern fundies too of late.

[bunkerbuster1]

8. I'll take "politial cover" for 600, Alex

This news cycle stinks. Gooper Congressmen get to report to their constituencies that they had them some tough talk with the Preznit. Meanwhile Preznit Pissypants changes his strategery not one iota.

[Virginia Dare]

11. I can't speak for the rest of them..

but I don't think it's going to fly in Tom Davis's district of Northern Virginia. He's quite possibly toast.

[bunkerbuster1]

16. Well, pass the butter then.

I'll admit, I would've liked to have seen Commander Guy's face when Davis informed him the President has a 5 percent approval rating in some NoVA precincts.

[Virginia Dare]

18. Indeed, I'm sure that's what prompted his "soberness"..

he really doesn't have a clue, and I'm sure the "serious" members of Congress such as Davis are getting pretty fed up. Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch I say, extra butter. :kick:

[Warpy]

10. Interesting words, indeed

about what was likely a snot slinging fit, if we know Stupid. Either that or he becomes almost rational when Darth is out of town.

[Bob3]

12. he didn't pay any attention to baker and co.

What makes anybody thing he's going to pay attention to this either - he's not running again what the hell does he care if the gop goes down the tubes. It's all about him nobody else in the world matters.

[Virginia Dare]

19. That's probably what their real fear is..

which is why they "stormed the White House" yesterday to have a "candid" talk. Seriously what planet have these assholes been living on?

[gratuitous]

14. Is LaHood that stupid, or does he think we're that stupid?

And what's with Roberts' stupid premise: "There's a possibility, of course, that this so-called surge works." Yeah John, and there's a possibility that if you stick this fork into that electrical outlet, you'll poop out a pill that cures cancer. You don't love cancer, do you John? Then why won't you stick that fork into that outlet? Can you categorically and with 100% certainty say that you won't poop out a pill that cures cancer? Then you don't care about cancer patients, do you, you heartless bastard?

Oh yeah, the surge could work, too.

[dajoki]

17. "about as frank and honest ...at the White House"

REP. RAY LAHOOD (R) ILLINOIS: Unvarnished, about as frank and honest as I have ever been to at the White House. I’ve been to a lot of meetings, most of them on the war and members really told the president in I think the most unvarnished way that they possibly could that things have got to change, that we’re going to hang with him until September, but we need an honest assessment in September and that peoples’ patience is running very, very, very thin.

If this meeting was "about as frank and honest as I have ever been to at the White House", it shows how dishonest they really are. What goes on in the other meetings? Nothing but lies and telling Bush what he wants to hear.

[Virginia Dare]

20. As long as the cash was being handed out liberally, they

were fine with it. But guess what, the GOP coffers are starting to run dry and a good chunk of change is going to have to go into the futile attempt to get one of their own in the White House again. They're in real trouble IMO.