[Sosfbay-discuss] House speaker faces 'impeach' chants at ribbon-cutting

[JamBoi]

San Jose Mercury News:
http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_6335233

House speaker faces 'impeach' chants at ribbon-cutting
By SCOTT LINDLAW Associated Press Writer
Article Launched: 07/09/2007 05:54:48 PM PDT

SAN FRANCISCO—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
Advertisement
Click Here!
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.

___________________

JamBoi: Jammy, The Sacred Cow Slayer
The Green Parties' #1 Blogger
http://dailyJam.blogspot.com

"To the brave belong all things"
Celt's invading Etrusca reply to nervous Romans around 400BC

"Live humbly, laugh often and love unconditionally" (anon)


       
____________________________________________________________________________________
Get the free Yahoo! toolbar and rest assured with the added security of spyware protection.
http://new.toolbar.yahoo.com/toolbar/features/norton/index.php