War Room

No action

Republicans scold Bush on Iraq but say they'll stand with him when it counts.

Much is being made of the meeting this week between George W. Bush and Republican moderates who reportedly told the president that the Iraq war is hurting the GOP and that he can't count on their support of it for too much longer.

All we need to know about the meeting comes in two paragraphs from the New York Times:

"We had a very frank conversation about the situation in Iraq," [GOP Rep. Charlie Dent] said. Even so, the Republicans who attended the White House session indicated that they would maintain solidarity with Mr. Bush for now by opposing the latest Democratic proposal for two-stage financing of war, which is scheduled for a vote on Thursday in the House.

"Lawmakers said Mr. Bush made no commitments, but seemed grateful for their support and said a precipitous withdrawal from Iraq could cause the sort of chaos that occurred in Southeast Asia after Americans left Vietnam."

Politics in the news

Loading...

About War Room

War Room is written and edited by Alex Koppelman, with contributions from Salon reporters around the country.

Currently in Salon

  • From Balloon Boy to Sarah Palin's death panels, the media chased a lot of hoaxes in 2009 and called them news
  • Special ho-ho-ho-infused, not-quite-gift-guide edition: MST3K, Wenders, film noir, wine snobs and more
  • From cash-strapped polygamists to rogue lawn mowers at Sterling Cooper, the greatest shows dared to provoke
  • Grab a partner. You have some cooking to do. Plus: Last week's winners
  • At least, I was until now. Because in my circle, nothing is more embarrassing than being religious
  • What the Democrats can learn from the Republicans about managing the ménage à trois within the party
  • Sex scandals, swine flu, tea parties, Michele Bachmann -- and that's just the first half of 2009
  • Jacob Hacker breaks with fellow progressives, comes out in favor of the Senate's proposal
  • She never became Hollywood's It girl, but she was as daffy and heartbreaking as her A-list contemporaries
  • It's spawned a VH1 show and an excuse for Tiger Woods. But some experts balk at the idea of being hooked on nooky

Other News