Sideshows and the Real Show

I'm with Kleiman and against Drum on the merits of the Barack Obama plan for Iraq. There's nothing wrong with Obama's plan. Although I will say that I don't think liberals should get too tied up in knots about the difference between symbolic resolutions, verbal calls, legislation Bush will veto, and all the rest.

The place where the rubber will actually hit the road here is when Bush comes to congress asking for a supplemental appropriation for Iraq. The Democrats will, presumably, want to amend that proposal in various ways. Bush will, presumably, threaten to veto amendments he doesn't like or maybe ignore them with signing statements. There's a decent chance of seeing a genuine showdown here complete with big, big controversies as to who, exactly, is holding up funding the troops need. If I had my way, everyone would keep their powder dry for that fight.