Debbie Wasserman Schultz: “Thank you to my good friend. Before you are excused, though, I do want to tell you, you were so kind in your words about…”

“Thank you to my good friend. Before you are excused, though, I do want to tell you, you were so kind in your words about the three of us and you have been so helpful to us over the last 2 years and joining us here night after night on the floor. But, quite honestly, I really want to commend you on your eloquence and your commitment on this issue in particular. You have been one of the key leaders of the Out of Iraq Caucus. You have kept this caucus focused on those issues that are incredibly important. As my good friend, the gentleman from Florida, indicated in his remarks earlier, one of the major reasons that we were returned to the majority of this institution is because of how strongly people feel about the situation with the war in Iraq. And so thank you very much for helping with that effort. With that having been said, one of the things that I think that is going to be important in about an hour from now for the American people to note when the President makes his remarks to the Nation is that what we heard the President say repeatedly, Mr. Ryan, Mr. Meek, over and over again over the last several years, was that his strategy was going to be tied to the advice from his military leaders; that he was going to listen to the generals; that he was going to take a page from their book, take their lead, use whatever expression is applicable. But I guess he was just kidding, or maybe he was just saying that he meant that until he wasn't hearing what he wanted to hear.”