Democrats reach deal with Bush on Iraq

Democrats have reached a deal with the White House that would give President Bush the money he wants for Iraq.  The bill will not contain a timeline for U.S. withdrawal, nor will it force Bush to come back every three months for funding.

Translation: the Democrats have folded.  But that is not how House Majority leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) is spinning it:

"The president has made it very clear he is not going to sign atimeline. We can't sign timelines over his veto. But the fact of thematter is I think we have moved this debate very substantially forwardin terms of accountability and demanding a new direction in Iraq," saidHouse Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md.

Politically speaking, we can make three affirmations about this latest development:

• The Congressional Majority is not organized enough.
• The Democrats, more so than the White House, care more about funding our soldiers than winning a political battle.  The White House and Democrats played a game of chicken for three months.  Bush has made it clear that he would let the money run out in July if it means making the Democrats look bad.
• Bloggers like myself need to do a better job getting our daily message out in order to move the public in the right direction.

Comments

[Chris Huston]

It is perhaps the greatest con of 2007 that has somehow convinced lawmakers that cutting off the funds for the war would somehow deprive the troops. Doonsebury picked up on this recently. If the money isn't there...the troops go home. Yet somehow people manage to attach the emotional connotation that we'll put our soldiers on half rations and give them half the ammo.

The Democrats are still thinking strategically for their own gain in some ways. They don't want to lose political points now even if it meant ending the war, which would give them far more points in the future anyway, and would save American lives to boot.

I've heard they plan to draw the lines of battle this fall after Petraeus gives his report on whether the surge is showing progress. I pray for those who die this summer because the Democrats folded, and shiver when I think of Petraeus's report saying it was still 'unclear' as to whether progress is being made....and prompting the risk of the Democrats folding all over again.