Bush, Democratic leaders agree on bipartisan Iraq panel

[rodeodance]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/01/30/tuesday/index.html

Bush, Democratic leaders agree on bipartisan Iraq panel

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush and Democratic congressional leaders agreed Tuesday to form a "bipartisan working group" on Iraq and the broader war on terror to try and improve the dialogue between the White House and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, according to White House and congressional aides.

The breakthrough came after a "good phone conversation" between the president and the two Democratic leaders Tuesday afternoon, according to White House spokeswoman Dana Perino.

The first meeting will be next week for the president and the informal group that will include Reid, Pelosi as well as key Democratic and Republican lawmakers on the armed services and foreign relations panels on the Hill.

-- From CNN White House Correspondent Ed Henry (Posted 7:35 p.m.)

[babylonsister]

1. The Dems are 'trying' to work with the blivet. We shall see.

I thought Reid and Pelosi had canned this idea. ?

[Rose Siding]

6. They did! I don't know what's up now.

:shrug:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x3166373

[grytpype]

2. Don't be quick to say Reid and Pelosi don't know what they're doing.

They are smart, tough, they haven't forgotten anything, and they know exactly what is at stake here. They are not fools folks, they think two or three moves ahead. Have a little confidence.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. I can just hear the Frat Boy now

We are going to have a bipartisan panel. You may name any Democrat you like as long as it's Senator Lieberman.

[grytpype]

5. Wow, you're good!

According to the WaPo article on this, Bush originally proposed to pick the Democratic members of the panel, which Reid and Pelosi turned down. Now, they get to pick the Dems!

A senior Democratic leadership aide said yesterday that Bush had wanted to dictate the terms of the panel and even select its Democratic members.

Yesterday, Bush spoke with Pelosi and Reid, and they agreed to create a panel to which Democrats could appoint their own members. "They had a very good conversation today and it was a very promising start," said Brendan Daly, a Pelosi spokesman.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/30/AR2007013001085.html

[azurnoir]

4. Ya sure bi-partisan committee

Bush wants to keep the Dem's talking while he keeps doing

[Solly Mack]

7. Ding!Ding!Ding!

Bush to the panel: But you were part of the process - you talked it over and talked it over - and I did what I was always going to do anyway.

[HuffleClaw]

8. for the love of miffy, WHY???

they've gotta know its a complete waste of time, especially since they saw bush casually and laughingly blow off the last iraq report.