Democrats Keep Digging

It looks like the Democrats are trying hard to straddle two horses. I predict severe rips in the crotch area.

WASHINGTON - Democrats are debating whether to approve $50 billion to $70 billion for Iraq and Afghanistan, a quarter to less than half of President Bush’s $196 billion request but enough to keep the wars afloat for several more months.

Such a move would satisfy party members who want to spare the Pentagon from a painful budget dance and support the troops as Congress considers its next major step on Iraq.

But it would also irritate scores of other Democrats, who want to pay only to bring troops home and who say their leadership is not doing enough to end the war.

“I cannot vote for another dollar that will be used to continue the president’s occupation of Iraq,” said Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Calif.

Democratic leaders caution that no decisions have been made, including whether to approve any money for the wars at all. Also uncertain is which spending bill might contain the war money.

But on the table are estimates of $40 billion to $70 billion—with $50 billion considered the most likely scenario. The final amount would depend on how many months of combat that Democrats would want to support, and how much money they think the Pentagon needs to buy new bomb-resistant vehicles that protect troops from roadside blasts.

The article does take a dig at congressional supporters of "an unpopular war". I don't think they are reading it right. Losing is the most unpopular position. Say. Doesn't that describe the Democrat leadership - in favor of losing? You would think that the Democrats would stop digging. I guess they have the same problem many newspapers and TV reporters have.

They can't stop digging.