Pelosi Tells Bush to ‘Calm Down’

With Congress nearing a consensus on a withdrawal timetable, the president repeated the claim Wednesday that Democrats would be held responsible for denying the troops funding. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi responded by saying Bush should “Calm down with the threats,” and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid simply asked, “Why doesn’t he get real with what’s going on with the world?”

AP via Yahoo!:

Democratic leaders, determined to force Bush to change course in Iraq, also disputed his contention that Congress would be to blame for any funding difficulties in a war they have vowed to end.

“Why doesn’t he get real with what’s going on with the world?” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (news, bio, voting record), D-Nev. “We’re not holding up funding in Iraq and he knows that. Why doesn’t he deal with the real issues facing the American people?”

Pelosi responded to Bush with a blend of conciliation and challenge.

“On this very important matter, I would extend a hand of friendship to the president, just to say to him, ‘Calm down with the threats,” she said. “There’s a new Congress in town. We accept your constitutional role. We want you to accept ours.”

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