- Lose the pork.
Any Dem who bolts will be known to have only been for the pork in the first place -- not a great position to take right now.
- Leave in the money for veterans' benefits.
Let Bush complain about that all he wants -- this is our way of respecting the troops.
- Lose the timetable.
Sorry -- if he didn't OK it this time (when he could have easily issued a signing statement taking the money and ignoring the deadlines), he'll never go for it. Besides, the American people will be the final judge of when it's time to come out (see below). I don't think they'll blame the Dems for not trying.
- Leave in the benchmarks -- but take out the consequences.
You don't need any consequences written into the bill -- because the American people will provide all the consequences the Dems want or need.
Check it out: Bush said, "When the Iraqis stand up, we'll stand down." Well, it's clear now (and the American people know it too) that the Iraqis aren't going to stand up anytime soon; they're too busy killing each other (or letting the government go on a two-month vacation). So leave in the benchmarks and let the electorate provide the only consequence that matters -- a massive electoral defeat for the Republican party in '08. By this time next year, the Republicans will be facing an exile from power that will last for a generation or more. What better consequence could the Dems ask for?
- Leave in the standards for troop-readiness.
Again: this is how we respect the troops. And the Republicans? I'll leave it to sell the idea that, "you go with the Army you have, not the Army you'd like to have."
I'm sure this will infuriate those Dems who want to withhold all funding immediately -- after all, that is strongest position they can take. But here's the thing:
it isn't the position that will get the most votes. In fact, it isn't even
the position favored by the American electorate.
So Dems have to look at what is possible. Remember, they passed the vetoed bill with 10 votes to spare in the House and 5 in the Senate. A stricter bill isn't going to pass. Nor is a looser one, because the progressive wing won't stand for it.
The scenario Weigant talks about is the most realistic one I've seen yet that stands a chance of passage -- while putting the Dems on the right side of the issue morally and politically.
Bottom line: You have to move the ball forward, even if it is just by inches at a time.
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