Or, as the Washington Post puts it, Democrats alter plan to restrict Iraq war
Senior House Democrats, seeking to placate members of their party from Republican-leaning districts, are pushing a plan that would place restrictions on President Bush's ability to wage the war in Iraq but would allow him to waive them if he publicly justifies his position.
Under the proposal, Bush would also have to set a date to begin troop withdrawals if the Iraqi government fails to meet benchmarks aimed at stabilizing the country that the president laid out in January.
The plan is an attempt to bridge the differences between anti-war Democrats, led by Rep. John P. Murtha (Defeatocrat-Pa.), who have wanted to devise standards of troop readiness strict enough to force Bush to delay some deployments and bring some troops home, and Democrats wary of seeming to place restrictions on the president's role as commander in chief.
"Resolution after resolution, Bill after Bill." All in an attempt to end the war precipitously, without winning. To mix metaphors, the Democrats want to pull the team off the field during the 7th Inning Stretch while up 7-3.
Now, though, the Defeatocrats are taking a different tact
But unlike last month, when nonbinding language expressing opposition to Bush's troop increase plan was blocked by GOP procedural objections, Democrats this time intend to give Republicans broad latitude to offer their own Iraq-related measures. If Republicans go along, the result could be a remarkably robust and wide-open debate — but nothing of consequence is likely to pass.
Way to stand by your, well, can't say guns, how about wet noodles?, Democrats. They continue to play political games with the lives of our soldiers and the security of the United States.
But any dilution of Murtha's original proposal is likely to infuriate the antiwar wing of the party, which wants dramatic action now. After a conference call yesterday, antiwar and labor groups all but gave up on Murtha's approach, concluding they could only support a war-funding "supplemental" bill if it contains a deadline for withdrawing troops.
To put it un-politely, it will send the Nutroots and hard left into meltdown mode. Conniption fits. Psychopathy. Infuriation. Utter seething.
Captain Ed puts it nicely
All of this maneuvering takes place because the Democrats lack the courage to actually take the one step that could do what they want and end the American military involvement in Iraq. And they wonder why the American people don't trust them on national security.
Even Democrats do not believe in their "mandate."
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