A Tale Told By An Idiot…

Dick Gephardt is now joining Daschle in accusing the President of "politicizing the war."

I thought the Democrats wanted a debate on Iraq. Yet if the President speaks out on what he wants, its suddenly politicizing the war for partisan gain. So what the Democrats want is a debate that has no content.

It’s as Shakespeare said, "a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, and yet signifying nothing." If we’re going to have a real debate on Iraq, then let’s have one. If the Democrats don’t want to attack Iraq, then fine, let them state it loud and clear. If the President thinks that’s wrong, then let him call those who disagree on it. That is what our representative democracy is all about.

The Democrats in Congress are shooting themselves in the foot. The American people are hawkish on Iraq, and they see the Republicans as having a stronger stance on national security issues. By making Iraq an issue into the fall elections season, the Democrats are making sure that they put their weakest foot forward. If they delay a vote on the Iraqi resolution until after the elections, it makes them look like they’re running away from the issue.

So what the Democrats have been reduced to is trying to spin the debate against Bush by accusing him of partisanship, which is in itself a partisan move. It’s a terrible strategy, and one that ensures that the Democrats sliding poll numbers will continue to head down the tubes. This may be the issue that puts the Senate into Republican hands, and ensures that Daschle and Gephardt torpedo their chances in 2004.