Democrats escape to a resort

[Ron Burgundy]

AP - The House Democrats' escape to the seclusion of a resort was a short-term celebration that had all the elements of a honeymoon: optimism, hope — and a disagreement that may take some time to resolve.

"The war, the war, the war," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (news, bio, voting record) of California, emerging briefly from the seclusion of a resort and spa, told reporters Friday.

But it's what to do about the war in Iraq that has split the caucus. Among the questions: What should a House resolution, if there is one, on President Bush's troop escalation say, and what should the Iraq strategy be if the president's plan doesn't crush the bloody insurgency there?

Democrats also have some other issues on which they're not together, such as whether to accept a Senate-passed bill that pairs an increase in the minimum wage with business tax breaks or insist on their own wage increase-only version. And perhaps most thorny: Democrats say they heard the electorate's demand for Congress to make laws, not just argue about issues. Are they unified enough to compromise?

One experienced married guy gave the caucus some sage advice Thursday night:

"If you can't do the whole journey in a single leap, take as many steps as possible and make things better if not perfect," former President Clinton said during a private, and prolonged, visit with the celebratory crowd, according to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (news, bio, voting record), D-Maryland.

"I think we're all agreed on that," Hoyer told reporters.

That pragmatism extends somewhat to the debate over whether to pair a minimum wage bill with tax breaks for businesses, as Republicans insist. Hoyer said the party is not "drawing a line in the sand" over the issue but remained hopeful Congress will approve a minimum wage increase and leave the tax breaks for other legislation.

Deeply divided over how much war opposition to express in any resolution on Bush's planned troop escalation and what war or withdrawal strategy to advocate, Democrats invited some other expert perspective. Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Hoar, former head of U.S. Central Command, advised them Friday to plan for the failure of the war.

On Saturday, they were to hear from the war's chief commander, Bush himself.

Hoar, who believes the war was a mistake and has opposed the treatment of detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, said he told the caucus to step in where the administration has not.

"I believe the secretary of state said that there's no Plan B," Hoar said. "I would hope that people would begin to think about the consequences of the inability of the Iraqi government to step up to these issues, and what we need to do in the region to prevent a failed state."

Bush will offer his views to the newly empowered Democrats in a session open to reporters. Then he retreats behind closed doors for a question-and-answer period that's expected to be considerably more frank. Democrats have several questions ready, representative of concerns of the caucus, Pelosi said.

Rep. Tim Walz (news, bio, voting record) of Minnesota said he would be questioning Bush on the administration's record with veterans.

Whatever the issues among themselves and with Bush, ascendant Democrats said they would receive the president with respect.

In talking points she left behind after a chat with reporters, Pelosi pointed out that while Democrats appreciated Bush's visit, it was he who banned reporters from the question-and-answer session. Democrats, she said, "certainly" would answer questions.

She did not mention that the caucus banned reporters from the compound, except for Bush's visit.

Rep. Dave Loebsack (news, bio, voting record) of Iowa was more backhanded. The Democrats' rise to the congressional majority compelled this give-and-take with Bush.

"You're reporting it and George Bush is listening," he said. "That is, from my standpoint, a major improvement over what we had prior to Nov. 7."

Celebrating that sense of just being included seemed to be in order. What decisions to make could wait until they return to Washington.

"Euphoric may be a little heavy, but certainly very, very energized and happy and optimistic about the ability to do things," Hoyer said, describing the mood. "There's a great sense of engagement, of solidarity in the caucus."

source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070203/ap_on_go_co/house_democrats [link]