FORD
07-10-2007, 04:27 PM
House speaker faces 'impeach' chants at ribbon-cutting
By SCOTT LINDLAW
07/09/07 17:55:45
It should have been a festive occasion for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, but the ribbon-cutting of a new federal building turned into a skirmish with anti-war protesters.
About a dozen people chanted "Impeach now!" as Pelosi spoke at the dedication of the $144 million, 18-story landmark office complex, which boasts cutting-edge energy efficiency features. The demonstrators also unfurled a large "impeach" banner that directly faced Pelosi and other speakers.
As Pelosi and other dignitaries prepared to snip the ceremonial ribbon, a heckler shouted: "How about cutting the funding for war?"
Pelosi ignored the protesters, who were loud enough to compete with her remarks, but not loud enough to drown her out. The event was held outdoors, with invited guests kept outside a police barricade but well within shouting distance.
However, a Bush administration official fired back at the demonstrators, accusing them of not paying taxes. Peter G. Stamison, appointed by President Bush as the General Services Administration's top official for the Pacific Rim region, acted as master of ceremonies.
"I think we all as taxpayers - those of us taxpayers, as opposed to you people back there - are the ones that make this work," Stamison said of the government efforts that brought the new building to life.
"Excuse me, I pay taxes!" a protester yelled.
After the ribbon-cutting, Pelosi told reporters she hopes to present "once again to the president the resolution that said, the redeployment out of Iraq must be completed by no later than April 1, 2008."
Asked about Iraqi leaders' warnings Monday that the country might collapse if American troops leave too quickly, Pelosi said: "Well, it's a disaster now."
"It would be hard to describe a situation worse than what President Bush has gotten us into there," Pelosi said.
Pelosi's comments came before The Associated Press reported Monday that a progress report on Iraq, expected to be delivered later this week, will conclude that the U.S.-backed government has not met any of its targets for political, economic and other reform, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the draft is still under discussion.
Democrats "have a strategic vision for the Middle East, and that vision must begin by redeploying our troops out of Iraq," Pelosi said at the ribbon-cutting.
She said legislation calling on Bush to adopt recommendations by the Iraq Study Group, which identified a potential redeployment date of spring 2008, would not go far enough.
"We have to do more," she said.
Pelosi ignored a question about Cindy Sheehan, an anti-war activist and mother of a slain soldier who has decided to challenge Pelosi for her congressional seat unless she moves to impeach Bush.
Link (http://www.fresnobee.com/384/story/81421.html)
By SCOTT LINDLAW
07/09/07 17:55:45
It should have been a festive occasion for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, but the ribbon-cutting of a new federal building turned into a skirmish with anti-war protesters.
About a dozen people chanted "Impeach now!" as Pelosi spoke at the dedication of the $144 million, 18-story landmark office complex, which boasts cutting-edge energy efficiency features. The demonstrators also unfurled a large "impeach" banner that directly faced Pelosi and other speakers.
As Pelosi and other dignitaries prepared to snip the ceremonial ribbon, a heckler shouted: "How about cutting the funding for war?"
Pelosi ignored the protesters, who were loud enough to compete with her remarks, but not loud enough to drown her out. The event was held outdoors, with invited guests kept outside a police barricade but well within shouting distance.
However, a Bush administration official fired back at the demonstrators, accusing them of not paying taxes. Peter G. Stamison, appointed by President Bush as the General Services Administration's top official for the Pacific Rim region, acted as master of ceremonies.
"I think we all as taxpayers - those of us taxpayers, as opposed to you people back there - are the ones that make this work," Stamison said of the government efforts that brought the new building to life.
"Excuse me, I pay taxes!" a protester yelled.
After the ribbon-cutting, Pelosi told reporters she hopes to present "once again to the president the resolution that said, the redeployment out of Iraq must be completed by no later than April 1, 2008."
Asked about Iraqi leaders' warnings Monday that the country might collapse if American troops leave too quickly, Pelosi said: "Well, it's a disaster now."
"It would be hard to describe a situation worse than what President Bush has gotten us into there," Pelosi said.
Pelosi's comments came before The Associated Press reported Monday that a progress report on Iraq, expected to be delivered later this week, will conclude that the U.S.-backed government has not met any of its targets for political, economic and other reform, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the draft is still under discussion.
Democrats "have a strategic vision for the Middle East, and that vision must begin by redeploying our troops out of Iraq," Pelosi said at the ribbon-cutting.
She said legislation calling on Bush to adopt recommendations by the Iraq Study Group, which identified a potential redeployment date of spring 2008, would not go far enough.
"We have to do more," she said.
Pelosi ignored a question about Cindy Sheehan, an anti-war activist and mother of a slain soldier who has decided to challenge Pelosi for her congressional seat unless she moves to impeach Bush.
Link (http://www.fresnobee.com/384/story/81421.html)