Wednesday, January 10, 2007

The Surge Dirge

Slate has an interesting article on Ted *Hic* Kennedy's temper tantrum at the National Press Club the other day.

(I)n the U.S. Capitol, the new Senate Democratic leaders took their place before the microphones just off the Senate floor to put forward their plan: a bipartisan, nonbinding bill called the Pale Action and Timid Gesture Resolution. That wasn't the real name, of course, but it is exactly what Kennedy insisted Congress should not do. Afterward, I asked Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois what had happened to his own suggestion that Congress limit the number of troops that could fight in Iraq as a way to stop the surge. "That's Senator Kennedy's bill," said the second-highest-ranking Democrat. Yes, but didn't you suggest that troops be limited, I asked? "That's Senator Kennedy's bill." You're on your own, Ted.

Senate Democratic leaders say they are merely being sensible. They don't want an effort to stop funding for the new strategy to be misinterpreted as a lack of support for American troops. In two days of reporting on the House and Senate side, it is clear that Democratic leaders are more worried about being tagged as anti-G.I. than being penalized by liberals for not doing all they can to end the war. Their posture may change, but for now, what seems likely is that the Democrats will do no more than put together a nonbinding resolution that would show disapproval.

Democrats have a lot to lose if they push too hard against the President's new plan. If they cut off funding for the troops, it would be pretty difficult to argue that they support the troops but want to deny them body armor.

But as the article points out, the loony left doesn't care. They are sponsoring petitions and rallies to show how patriotic they are. Yeah, right.

UPDATE: BlackFive has more on Teddy's tantrum and points out that the additional 20,000 troops are only part of the President's plan.

Hot Air has Teddy's video.