The Huffington Post (go read the whole thing) is reporting that some House Democrats are ready to capitulate again on Iraq and give Bush what he wants. More money:
Some House Democratic leaders are considering plans to quietly fund the Iraq war while trying to minimize the political fall-out.
One of the latest proposals under discussion involves putting $30 billion in a nearly-completed omnibus spending bill that would be earmarked for the war in Afghanistan, but could freely be used for operations in Iraq.
Got that? They are going to allow Bush to take money from Afghanistan, and pour it down the drain in Iraq. And they're hoping that we won't notice.
Why are they doing this? Because Bush is calling them names (all emphasis mine):
"Democratic leadership is considering this as a way to get the White House off their backs," said one Hill staffer with knowledge of the legislative proposal. "If the money isn't required to go only to Afghanistan then the president is going to do with it what he pleases."
Among Democrats who favor a less confrontational approach with the White House, the idea is highly regarded for several reasons: Democrats will be funding what is perceived within the party as "the good war," while also preempting White House criticism that the Pentagon is being strapped for cash.
So, the new Democratic strategy is to give Bush exactly what he wants, and to hope that the majority of voters who want the war to be over will be impressed by their capitulation.
The most disgusting of all, in my opinion, is this:
But the problem, they note, is far greater than this one funding battle. Democrats simply believe they lack a mechanism for bringing the war to a halt.
Really? There is no way for Congress to stop the Iraq war? How about, um, not paying for it? But don't fret, ladies and gentlemen. Because this capitulation will achieve a great strategic victory and ultimately bring our troops home. Once the Dems give Bush more money for Iraq, again, they will have......bought time with the President!
"There is a lot of pressure from certain segments of the caucus to go ahead and advance the funding, " said a senior Democrat adviser. "The hope is that by doing something like this, it will buy us time with the President... The question is how long can we continue that going forward."
Wait, what?