Chris over at Mason Conservative beat me to the punch, but the Post’s systematic smackdown of the Speaker is a must-read. Here’s the last – and in my view, best – part of it:
“We came in friendship, hope, and determined that the road to Damascus is a road to peace,” Ms. Pelosi grandly declared.
Never mind that that statement is ludicrous: As any diplomat with knowledge of the region could have told Ms. Pelosi, Mr. Assad is a corrupt thug whose overriding priority at the moment is not peace with Israel but heading off U.N. charges that he orchestrated the murder of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq al-Hariri. The really striking development here is the attempt by a Democratic congressional leader to substitute her own foreign policy for that of a sitting Republican president. Two weeks ago Ms. Pelosi rammed legislation through the House of Representatives that would strip Mr. Bush of his authority as commander in chief to manage troop movements in Iraq. Now she is attempting to introduce a new Middle East policy that directly conflicts with that of the president. We have found much to criticize in Mr. Bush’s military strategy and regional diplomacy. But Ms. Pelosi’s attempt to establish a shadow presidency is not only counterproductive, it is foolish.
Unlike, MC, I’m not really surprised the reaction of the Post. It is the center-left paper in town (and the country), but its editorial page was four-square behind then liberation of Iraq in 2003, and unless I missed something (and readers, please tell me if I have), it has never abandoned or retracted that position. Unlike the New York Times, the Post actually understands that it’s a dangerous world out there. If the Democrats nominate the wrong candidate, the GOP nominee could actually get the Post nod (especially if George Allen runs for Warner’s seat and the Post needs political cover for Allen Takedown II).
