There is no political future in fighting mad dogs by patient tolerance. The 30 % support for Bush and the war that is being touted in today's polls demonstrates that there continues to be and will continue to be a hardcore base of mad dog conservatives in this country that will not be satisfied until they have destroyed it. Whatever that extreme fringe group's psychological deficiencies are, and the effects of their masters' manipulations, the Democrats continued patient, moderate approach, their attempts at appeasement, is a failed and failing response. Unless the Democrats stand up for the 70 % who now know what a disaster the war and Bush's other policies are by taking a firm and aggressive stance, they are marching themselves and us into eventual defeat and destruction.
It's beyond obvious now that Bush and his GOP enablers plan to run out the clock and will be delighted to pass their horrendous legacy of problems on to the Democrats and the next Democrat president. Karl Rove couldn't have devised a more clever strategic trap and Bush is executing it well. By the time the Dems have achieved complete political control of Congress and the Presidency in 2008, ex-President Bush and the Repugs will be ready to pounce in the same and even worse manner than they did during Clinton's presidency.
The Dems and their new leader will reverse course in Iraq where it is acknowledged that there are no good alternatives. The expected chaos and disasters that will follow will be placed at their doorstep by Repugs and their MSM enablers frothing at the mouth, yelling treason! Remember 2007 they will say, the Surge was working, we warned against civil war and chaos, then the Dems took power and look what has happenned. Unfortunately, in the chaotic aftermath of our eventual withdrawal. Americans will for the first time actually feel the pain, most likely economically, and that always hurts the worst. The Repugs may quickly regain the Congress in the off year elections of 2010 and by 2012 they will have a candidate that will make Cheney look like a kind old man. In view of the climate then prevailing, we will end up with a Republican dictator in 2013 and we will pine for the days of Dubya!
The Democrats have the power to stop the war now: tie the funding bills to immediate commencement of withdrawals. The Murtha Plan, drop back to strategic positions to control the negative consequences in the Mideast and the Gulf. When Bush vetoes the bill, let there be no renewed attempt at funding and let Bush and the GOP deal with the consequences. Now is the time for bold action and deeds, the future will be too late!