Imperial Hubris

They should have saved that book title for David Broder. I mean, this is really incredible. After spending a week talking about how Harry Reid should resign for his "the war is lost" comment, and saying that many Democratic Senators agreed with him, not only have we found out that the whole Democratic caucus is solidly behind Reid, but today Broder said, essentially, "the war is lost":

EDWARDS: And what constituencies need to be pleased by these negotiations?

BRODER: Well, there are a whole variety of them. The Democrats have -- are being pushed by the anti-war wing of their party, which gets stronger, probably, every day. The president is -- still has the backing of most Republicans, who say that they support his effort to try to salvage something that would look like a victory in Iraq -- whether that's achievable is really doubtful.

EDWARDS: The president says timetables are defeatist. Democrats say that continuing the war just amplifies past mistakes at great cost. Who's right?

BRODER: Well, I think public opinion in this country says the Democrats are right. When Gen. Patraeus was here in Washington this past week, he was making the case that they are still something that is worthwhile doing in Iraq. And he has more troops still coming in the next two months to try to achieve something that would look like progress, at least in Baghdad and Anbar Province. He probably has until August or September to produce something that would be tangible. If he can do it, that would be wonderful, but I think the odds are against him.

See, when Harry Reid says it, he ought to be banished to the wilderness from whence he came. When the Dean of the Washington press corps, the Great Mentioner, when he says pretty much the same thing, no biggie.

David Broder has been covering for the DC establishment for decades now, and these days, the biggest ass he has to cover is his own.