Schakowsky's Blackberries on Petraeus and Crocker

[bigtree]

The Antiwar Liberal | Jan Schakowsky

Tuesday, September 11, 2007; Page A08

Rep. Jan Schakowsky settled into the ornate Cannon Caucus Room to listen to Gen. David H. Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker. The Illinois Democrat, one of the House's most vociferous critics of the war, had her BlackBerry ready, and Petraeus was mere minutes into his testimony when she began firing off messages.

"Did I hear him correctly? I thought I heard Gen. Petraeus say that because of the 'progress' that's been made, the US will reduce the number of troops to pre-surge levels by NEXT SUMMER," she wrote to a reporter, offering her real-time reaction.

"He is presenting the same cherry-picked numbers that we've all heard before. . . . 4 1/2 years later and we are still hearing how, despite their deficiencies, Iraqi security forces are expanding their capacities.

"Bottom line? He is saying in effect, 'Stay the course.' "

Next came Crocker's opening remarks -- and another furious e-mail from Schakowsky, with the subject line "Just Wrong!"

"Crocker had the chutzpah to begin by comparing Iraq and the chaos and violence there with U.S. history of slavery, universal suffrage, civil rights. . . . The US was not occupied by another nation that ran the show. . . . How dare he!"

Hours later, Schakowsky was still fuming . . .


more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/10/AR2007091002169.html

[eleny]

1. K&R!

[Robbien]

2. That's my rep

It is so great to have a representative react exactly the same way I would react to this farce.

Ha! Go Jan. How dare he indeed.

[hedda_foil]

3. Jan is the BEST representative imaginable!

I moved out of her district a year ago and I miss her. She is truly one of us. As sharp and well-informed as they come and not afraid to speak her mind.

[followthemoney]

4. Jan for President

My representative.
Even if I didn't live in her district she REPRESENTS me.

[ladjf]

6. She is one of the best Dems we have.

[mopinko]

5. she held a kick ass townhall over recess

kicking ass and taking names. talking about how bullshit things are there, which anyone can see even from the guilded guided tour. she actually said the petraeus report would be the same old bullshit.

gave us the stupid "getting things done" excuse for not impeaching, tho.