Speaking of Caves

I'm trying to figure out what universe makes it sensible to do this, if in fact this is what the Democrats are planning.

In grudging concessions to President Bush, Democrats intend to draft an Iraq war-funding bill without a timeline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops and shorn of billions of dollars in spending on domestic programs, officials said Monday.

The legislation would include the first federal minimum wage increase in more than a decade, a top priority for the Democrats who took control of Congress in January, the officials added.

Didn't the minimum wage increase pass with overwhelming support? Why would you need to throw it in the Iraq bill (and mute the political benefit) if it's veto-proof anyway? Wouldn't you want a big signing ceremony with a bunch of low-wage workers at the press conference? That's bad politics.

And the policy is, well, abominable. And any Presidential candidate who votes for it is going to have a hard time squaring with primary voters. I don't understand why Democratic leaders would make timetables FOR THEMSELVES in this debate by claiming that they have to give Bush a bill he can sign by Memorial Day? Isn't intransigence the proper response to intransigence? Especially when submission means more death, more destruction and less hope of any possible solution in Iraq?

This is essentially a "see you in September" maneuver, and I just don't buy the premise that the Republicans are going to head for the exits at that point.

While details remain subject to change, the measure is designed to close the books by Friday on a bruising veto fight between Bush and the Democratic-controlled Congress over the war. It would provide funds for military operations in Iraq through Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year.

Democrats in both houses are expected to seek other opportunities later this year to challenge Bush's handling of the unpopular conflict.

Why you would give in to a lame duck President who's approval ratings have been in the 30s for well over a year is beyond me. The President's team has already disrespected the process by offering no compromise of their own. Yet the Dems are listening to the voices of High Broderism, claiming that they must copromise at all costs because it would simply be messy to do otherwise. I submit that a little messy is just what we need right now.

For the record, Democratic leaders are not confirming the story. I should hope not. It would be astonishingly stupid to do this.