Top Bush administration officials lashed out at a pair of House Republicans at the White House yesterday after details about a contentious meeting between President Bush and GOP legislators were leaked to the media earlier this week.What arrogant little assholes we have in this administration. I’m not a huge LaHood fan but we should all have his back on this one. Bush and Rove and company really do think we have a monarchy (or worse) in this country.
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Reps. Ray LaHood (R-Ill.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) attracted the ire of White House officials for allegedly speaking to reporters about a Tuesday meeting between Bush and centrist Republicans on the Iraq war. Details of the contentious meeting first emerged Wednesday evening and attracted Page 1 headlines yesterday.
Sources said that Dan Meyer, Bush’s liaison to the House, confronted LaHood while White House political strategist Karl Rove rebuked Kirk. It is unclear if LaHood or Kirk were the original sources for the stories, but LaHood was quoted in one of the articles.
Regardless, LaHood and Meyer got into a shouting match as emotions ran high and voices were raised yesterday morning in the White House while lawmakers were waiting to meet with first lady Laura Bush, according to two legislators who witnessed the exchange.
The story goes on with further reflections on LaHood’s presents in Washington:
LaHood, who was passed over to lead the Intelligence Committee in 2004, is not shy about expressing his views.Although I probably disagree with LaHood on almost everything (I’ve never voted for him, probably never will), I would like to see more Republicans like him if we must have Republicans.
During the 109th Congress, the 7th-term lawmaker publicly criticized then Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) as well as then House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.).
A GOP rank-and-file lawmaker said that LaHood’s recent comments were a “nuisance” and made some members “pretty upset.”
“He’s his own man,” said a former senior GOP aide. “A lot of the members and members of leadership say that Ray talks too much.”
Still, some top GOP aides said LaHood’s candidness was not unusual and did not cause a flap within the conference.
“Ray’s been here a long time,” Hastert said. “He’s a stand up guy and he says what he thinks.”
3 comments:
I think LaHood has no backbone. He reminds me so much of Clinton. Just stick your finger in the air Ray and see which way the wind is blowing!
LaHood is pretty good about sounding moderate and making some decent public comments. But after hemming and hawing in the newspapers he almost always votes the Republican party line. I'm skeptical that this episode will break the pattern. Every Republican wants to distance themselves from Bush, but will LaHood actually vote to end the war?
LaHood is no idiot.
I watch CSPAN enough to see some foolish conservatives on committees still trying to sell the war, Atty General Gonzales, etc.
But embracing Bush's war, or even Bush is like drinking poison. It may not kill you, but it sure as hell isn't going to make you stronger.
JP
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