Juan Cole is right: The president’s veto of the withdrawal timeline needs aresponse, but John Edwards’ approach — to send the same bill back to the president until he signs it — is probably the wrong one politically.
It is satisfying to say so, but it probably isn’t good political tactics. When Newt Gingrich played politics with the budget under Clinton and even shut down DC, it was Congress that took the hit in the polls. Just being obstreperous isn’t very attractive.
U.S. Rep. John Murtha appears to have the best idea on this — as Cole points out:
Murtha is suggesting that they don’t fund a whole year, maybe only two months. That sort of conditionality, whatever its mechanism, seems right to me.
The key is to find a way to fund the troops, but begin the process of getting them home. In the meantime, war opponents need to turn up the pressure by expanding their protests. This thing has gone on way too long.
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Hank Kalet 