[Vision2020] Commentary by Michael Costello of the Lewiston Tribune

[Tom Hansen]

Two passages from your reference below, Mr. Costello, that come the closest
to your claim that Representative Emanuel "tells David Ignatius that he's
counting on failures in Iraq to boost Democratic electoral chances."

"With House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Emanuel plans to use Bush's Iraq speech to
pose what amounts to a vote of "no confidence" in Bush's leadership --
framing the new strategy as a congressional motion and voting it up or down.
Emanuel is certain that Bush's strategy will be voted down and that a
sizable number of Republicans will join the Democrats in rejecting the
military escalation. Rather than try to restrict funds for the troops (which
he sees as a political blunder that would delight Republicans), Emanuel
instead favors a proposal by Rep. John Murtha to set strict standards for
readiness -- which would make it hard to finance the troop surge in Iraq
without beefing up the military as a whole. The idea is to position the
Democrats as friends of the military, even as they denounce Bush's Iraq
policy."

"The secret for the Democrats, says Emanuel, is to remain the party of
reform and change. The country is angry, and it will only get more so as the
problems in Iraq deepen. Don't look to Emanuel's Democrats for solutions on
Iraq. It's Bush's war, and as it splinters the structure of GOP power, the
Democrats are waiting to pick up the pieces."

Outside of these two quotes Ignatius interview of Emanuel concerns domestic
issues.  NOWEHERE is there a quote attributed to Representative Emanuel that
comes close to your claim.

Could you please extract it and show it to us?

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho



-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Costello [mailto:kozmocostello at hotmail.com] 
Sent: Saturday, February 10, 2007 6:38 PM
To: thansen at moscow.com
Subject: RE: Commentary by Michael Costello of the Lewiston Tribune

I would also advise you to read this column by David Ignatius, all the way 
to the end, where Representative Rahm Emanuel, chairman of the House 
Democrats Campaign Committee, tells David Ignatius that he's counting on 
failures in Iraq to boost Democratic electoral chances.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/11/AR2007011101
575_pf.html