New sheriff in town?

Washington Post;

Democrats Relent On Pullout Timetable

By Shailagh Murray

Washington Post Staff Writer

Wednesday, May 23, 2007; Page A01



Democrats gave up their demand for troop-withdrawal deadlines in an Iraq war spending package yesterday, abandoning their top goal of bringing U.S. troops home and handing President Bush a victory in a debate that has roiled Congress for months.



Bush, who has already vetoed one spending bill with a troop timeline, had threatened to do the same with the next version if it came with such a condition. Democratic leaders had moved ahead anyway, under heavy pressure from liberals who believe that the party won control of Congress in November on the strength of antiwar sentiment. But in the end, Democrats said they did not have enough votes to override a presidential veto and could not delay troop funding.



The spending package, expected to total $120 billion when the final version is released today, would require Bush to surrender virtually none of his war authority. Democrats were working to secure two other priorities that the president had previously resisted: an increase in the minimum wage and funding for domestic programs, including veterans' benefits, Hurricane Katrina relief and agricultural aid.

And Sen Russ Feingold thinks its a matter or comfort;

Even before the ink was dry on the spending deal, antiwar lawmakers expressed strong opposition. "There has been a lot of tough talk from members of Congress about wanting to end this war, but it looks like the desire for political comfort won out over real action," said Sen. Russell Feingold (D-Wis.). But Democrats vowed to continue their quest on other legislative vehicles. The big showdown will come in several months, when funding from the new bill expires and results from the U.S. troop buildup and the Iraqi benchmarks begin to materialize.

Yeah, providing the money for the military to perform the job is a matter of political comfort.

But Nancy says just wait until September;

"This is another stage in the sequencing of ending this war," said Pelosi, who added that September will be "the moment of truth."

I thought this was the moment? Didn't the American people vote for change? Isn't there a new sheriff in town?

"Calm down with the threats, there's a new Congress in town." She went on to say, "We respect your constitutional role, we want you to respect ours."

Heh!

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