Ok, it looks like the Democratic leadership is going to offer up a bill with a couple of minor reporting requirements. In other words, give G.W. Bush exactly what he wants.
Ok, lets do it. Pull out even the reporting requirements. Don't even offer a fig leaf of reporting requirements. Craft a bill that is exactly what he requested down to the last punctuation mark.
Why?
Now before you all grab torches and pitchforks to come after me, here is why I propose this. The Democratic leadership has folded their cards. A give Bush everything he wants bill is coming. And there is no way they can credibly back up from this and insist that they are serious about having real restrictions in the bill.
But what can happen is this bill can move forward and be voted down. Think of the effect if the bill Bush wants comes up for a vote and is voted down. That would make it totally clear to Bush that if he wants funding, he is going to have to compromise.
And that is why we don't want even a single fig leaf in the bill. Because congress can see the writing on the wall. Yes voting against funding can be used against them in '08. But so can voting for a blank check. There is no way to know today which vote would hurt their re-election chances more.
It's not a great next step. But I think it may be our best alternative today. And if the bill is voted down, then it would be a very powerful step. At the very least we can give those trying to stop the war a clear chance to cleanly vote no.
