My, my, how the tables have turned. It wasn't but a few years ago when Democrats would bicker while the mighty Republican rubber stamp machine ran wild. Now that Republican legislative priorities have shown they don't work and the war is increasingly draining our treasury and the blood of our brave soldiers, things are rapidly changing. Democrats are becoming more united against the war by the day and the Republicans keep showing signs of fracture. Today's event was quite the crack between House Republicans and the White House.
From The Hill:
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 originial 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.
That must have been some sight to see. Lockstep Republicans are officially a thing of the past. While Bush is staying the course, oblivious to the 2008 elections coming up quick, House Republicans who wish to keep their jobs into the 111th session are starting to speak up. Apparently the White House does not like to see their Congressional brethren declaring a bit of independence from their glorious leader. Expect much more of this peculiar behavior from Republicans as the next election looms larger on the horizon as does the strengthening Democratic majority.
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