Democrats Escape to a Resort

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (AP) -- The House Democrats' escape to the seclusion of a resort was a short- term celebration that had all the elements of a honeymoon: optimism, hope _ and a disagreement that may take some time to resolve.

"Iraq, Iraq, Iraq," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, emerging briefly from the seclusion of a resort and spa, told reporters Friday.

What should a House resolution, if there is one, on President Bush's troop escalation say, and what should the Iraq strategy be if the president's plan doesn't crush the bloody insurgency there?

Democrats also have some other issues on which they're not together, such as whether to accept a Senate-passed bill that pairs an increase in the minimum wage with business tax breaks or insist on their own wage increase-only version. And perhaps most thorny: Democrats say they heard the electorate's demand for Congress to make laws, not just argue about issues. Are they unified enough to compromise?

"If you can't do the whole journey in a single leap, take as many steps as possible and make things better if not perfect," former President Clinton said during a private, and prolonged, visit with the celebratory crowd, according to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D- Maryland.

That pragmatism extends somewhat to the debate over whether to pair a minimum wage bill with tax breaks for businesses, as Republicans insist. Hoyer said the party is not "drawing a line in the sand" over the issue but remained hopeful Congress will approve a minimum wage increase and leave the tax breaks for other legislation.

Deeply divided over how much war opposition to express in any resolution on Bush's planned troop escalation and what war or withdrawal strategy to advocate, Democrats invited some other expert perspective. Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Hoar, former head of U.S. Central Command, advised them Friday to plan for the failure of the war.

Hoar, who believes the war was a mistake and has opposed the treatment of detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, said he told the caucus to step in where the administration has not.

"I believe the secretary of state said that there's no Plan B," Hoar said. "I would hope that people would begin to think about the consequences of the inability of the Iraqi government to step up to these issues, and what we need to do in the region to prevent a failed state."

Bush will offer his views to the newly empowered Democrats in a session open to reporters. Then he retreats behind closed doors for a question-and-answer period that's expected to be considerably more frank. Democrats have several questions ready, representative of concerns of the caucus, Pelosi said.

Rep. Tim Walz of Minnesota said he would be questioning Bush on the administration's record with veterans.

Whatever the issues among themselves and with Bush, ascendant Democrats said they would receive the president with respect.

In talking points she left behind after a chat with reporters, Pelosi pointed out that while Democrats appreciated Bush's visit, it was he who banned reporters from the question-and-answer session. Democrats, she said, "certainly" would answer questions.

She did not mention that the caucus banned reporters from the compound, except for Bush's visit.

Rep. Dave Loebsack of Iowa was more backhanded. The Democrats' rise to the congressional majority compelled this give-and-take with Bush.

"You're reporting it and George Bush is listening," he said. "That is, from my standpoint, a major improvement over what we had prior to Nov. 7."

Celebrating that sense of just being included seemed to be in order. What decisions to make could wait until they return to Washington.

"Euphoric may be a little heavy, but certainly very, very energized and happy and optimistic about the ability to do things," Hoyer said, describing the mood. "There's a great sense of engagement, of solidarity in the caucus."

One ~~experienced~~failed married guy gave the caucus some sage advice Thursday night:

The SheDevil's HINO is there, too? Article below says Pelosi wanted him there, but I also think she's begun the extraction of their lucifer's bargain, in addition to being very wary of her competition. Can you imagine how miserable he'll soon be with her push-button commands for him? LOLOLOL.

The mirrors there must be ready to crack, with all the preening of these jerks...LOL .. oh, look .. she's not in pink.

Didja hear a bit of her speech, sleuthie? That same old ugly screeching snuck out again. She just can't control it .. LOL.

This is rich

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President Bush's plan to send 21,500 more troops into Iraq will not work in the long run, but the "surge" might nonetheless have a short-term positive effect, former President Bill Clinton says.

That's the report from a source who was among a standing-room-only crowd of Democratic members of the House of Representatives and their families who attended a speech by the 42nd president Thursday night.

Clinton spoke at the Democrats' annual issues retreat in Williamsburg, Va. His remarks were closed to the press, but some participants described the proceedings to FOX News.

"Damn. I forget just how good Clinton is," said a staffer who listened to Clinton answer questions.

Another attendee said Clinton spent several hours addressing issues from energy policy, to AIDS in Africa and the way forward in Iraq.

The man in charge of organizing the retreat, Democratic Caucus Chairman Rep. Rahm Emanuel, whom many in the party credit with returning Democrats to power in the House, recruited Clinton to rev up his fellow Democrats on the first day of the conference, entitled "Governing for a New Direction."

If all goes as planned, members will end the conference as they began, with a high-ranking speaker: Bush, who is scheduled to speak to and answer questions from House Democrats on Saturday morning.

On Friday, day two of the retreat, members and their spouses will participate in a number of seminars led by political big-wigs, such as Democratic Govs. Janet Napolitano of Arizona, Deval Patrick of Massachusetts, Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas and Eliot Spitzer of New York, who were scheduled to lead the discussion on "A winning national message — coalitions for a winning majority."

((( Those are political "big-wigs?!?")))

Other seminars include, "faith and politics," "organizing for the future: labor briefing," "emerging coalitions" and "innovative technologies."

Over lunch, Gen. James Hoar, former commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East, was to talk about the war in Iraq and the president’s strategy to flood the country with 21,500 additional troops. Hoar last month told a Senate panel that Bush’s plan is "too little too late."

Among other things, Hoar planned to discuss what the Democratic-controlled Congress can do to influence the President’s strategy for success.

If members have too much of these issues discussions, they can take advantage of the one-on-one media training with Nancy Mathis, a former Washington TV news anchor, and Anita Dunn, political strategist and communications adviser, who "will be available by appointment throughout the conference."

Early Thursday morning, members and their families stopped by a House office building to register for the conference before gathering on a charter train headed for the Kingsmill Resort in historic Williamsburg. Due to security reasons, the resort was closed to the public and press.

Caucus press secretary Nick Papas said close to 200 members registered for the trip; there are 232 Democratic members in the House.

One congressman’s wife brought nine pieces of luggage — including a playpen for her her dog, a miniature white Maltese. According to a baggage handler, this was the second year in a row that she traveled with just shy of 10 bags.

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Whose wife could it be?

I detest the former officers of the United States Military who are actively lending their support in the Rats' efforts to undermine our President in time of war, encouraging dissension and promoting disunity and loss of morale in the hearts of our wonderful troops!

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Democrats Serve Up Clinton-Style Centrism at Retreat

This is some posh resort:

Kingsmill Resort & Spa

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Does anyone know if W's speech and the Q&A tomorrow morning will be televised?

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