Umm..."Yay?"
The Bush administration has begun exploring ways of offering Congress a compromise deal on Iraq policy to avert bruising battles in coming months, U.S. officials said.
With public support of the war dropping, President Bush has authorized an internal policy review to find a plan that could satisfy opponents without sacrificing his top goals, the officials said.
The president and senior officials "realize they can't keep fighting this over and over," said one administration official, who along with others declined to be identified because they weren't authorized to speak publicly or because decisions were pending.
Yay! Victory is ours! I knew if we put Bush's feet to the fire could...hold on; huh?
AAUGH!
Bush was victorious last month in the most recent round of his battle with congressional Democrats over Iraq. He forced them, after weeks of struggle, to accept a $120-billion emergency war spending bill that did not require reductions of U.S. troops in Iraq. But future White House battles with Congress are looming.
Aw, C'mon! Wait; hold on...YAAAAAAAAAAY!
Bush has said he will not accept any American pullback that would imperil Iraq. Democrats are feeling growing pressure from their antiwar base for troop withdrawals, and could sacrifice a crucial 2008 campaign issue if they agreed to a deal with the White House.
Great; then all we have to do is...wha? AAAAAAAAAUUUUUUGH!
At the same time, a deal could be tempting to lawmakers who see it as a way out of a war that has damaged Congress' reputation as well as the president's. Though Democrats would be reluctant to let Bush off the hook, many "would have a hard time turning down a proposal that offers a real way out," said a Senate Democratic aide.
Um, how about "Let him wriggle on the hook like a worm?" I have no desire to save Bush from something (A) he caused and (B) he wants to pass of to others because he's too stupid and indifferent to solve it himself. As for the low opinion of Congress I subcribe to the Oliver Willis Theory on Low Congressional Numbers:
If the Democratic Congress allows themselves to once again be dupes for the administration and the media, they will have demonstrated that they don't deserve the majority. The reason their approval ratings have cratered are simply because they have refused to stand up to the president on the Iraq war. It's great that they're investigating the corruption that Republican leadership brings to our government, and I love that they're moving the ball in the right direction on crucial domestic policy. But Iraq is the central battle of our time, and on that issue they have FAILED and if they make the entire policy based on clapping their hands and hoping for Republicans to be good people they will have FAILED again.
I remember when we had Democrats who believed in truce and compromise with this president. Their names were Dick Gephardt and and Tom Daschle. Nice fellas, but completely unprepared for a man known for such quotes as
and the moment they displayed an iota of kindness (or as neo-cons like to call it: "weakness") they and others like them were systematically swept away.
Bottom line: anyone who believes that George W. Bush will have a sudden change of heart, or still subscribe to the Nancy Boyda Approach are better off waiting for the Great Pumkin. Can the media be any clearer here? By their call, the Democrats have caved, choked and raise a white flag to the All-Mighty Bush. Every time someone shouts "Dubya's closing in on Nixon!" Bush lovers respond, "Well, Congress is doing no better!" No one, no one in the Bush Administration has any desire to play fair with any Democrats in Congress. They will use this act of bi-partisanship to gain political points, continue the war/occupation and then turn around and blame Democrats for everything bad in Iraq, effectively making it the "Democrat's War" (Ooops; that's already happened).
To the Pysch Majors: Just Say "No" To a Truce from Bush.
What's that, Mr. Willis? You have something else to say? OK; go ahead:
Send them a bill with a timeline to end the war. If he vetoes it, send it back.
Send them a bill with a timeline to end the war. If he vetoes it, send it back.
Send them a bill with a timeline to end the war. If he vetoes it, send it back.
Send them a bill with a timeline to end the war. If he vetoes it, send it back.
Send them a bill with a timeline to end the war. If he vetoes it, send it back.