Bring on the Veto Pen

Senate signals support for Iraq timeline:

The Democratic-controlled Senate narrowly signaled support Tuesday for the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq by next March, triggering an instant veto threat from the White House in a deepening dispute between Congress and commander in chief. Republican attempts to scuttle the non-binding timeline failed, 50-48, largely along party lines.

The vote marked the Senate's most forceful challenge to date of the administration's handling of a war that has claimed the lives of more than 3,200 U.S. troops. It came days after the House approved a binding withdrawal deadline of Sept. 1, 2008.

After weeks of setbacks on the Senate floor, Majority Leader Harry Reid said the moment was at hand to "send a message to President Bush that the time has come to find a new way forward in this intractable war."

Senators Chuck Hagel (R-NB) and Gordon Smith (R-OR) voted with the Democrats. Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT) voted with Republicans.

Once Bush vetoes, as he has promised, it will put the onus back on the Dems to either continue this battle of wills or concede that it's Bush's goddamned war and therefore his war to end, because they simply don't have the votes to override his veto. Continuing to fight would mean facing "increasingly urgent statements from the administration that the money is needed for troops in the war zone," as well as taking additional time away from dealing with other issues of urgency on the domestic front. I'm not sure that's the wisest course of action. I'm also not sure it isn't.

When Bush vetoes, by the way, it will be his second, the first being against the bill seeking to expand funding for embryonic stem cell research. Support Bush's Culture of Life: Just say no to curing diseases and ending wars!