Bush Misreads Mood of Nation on War Funding

George “LBJ” Bush got the job of president because a segment of the American people felt a connection with him. Despite being a reformed boozer, he was seen as the kind of guy with whom the average Joe could have a beer. Now, with 60% of Americans ready to bring the troops home from Iraq-Nam, it seems Mr. Bush has lost that connected feeling (if it really was ever there). His threat to veto the war appropriations bill headed his way will not play the way he expects.

Yesterday he said, “If Congress fails to pass a bill that I can sign by mid-April, the Army will be forced to consider cutting back on equipment, equipment repair and quality of life initiatives for our Guard and Reserve forces.” He also said, “I’ve made it clear for weeks that if either the House or Senate version of this bill comes to my desk, I will veto it.”

Thus far, he has managed to keep Democratic legislators playing a cautious game by saying that supporting the troops is the sine qua non of American patriotism. His administration has painted a grim picture of US troops standing amid sand dunes and in the rubble of Baghdad hitchhiking home if the $123 billion war funding bill isn’t passed and signed. At the same time, he has insisted that the money must come without a timetable for withdrawal. As usual, “it’s my way or the highway,” according to The Decider.

However, most Americans know he’s lost this war. Most Americans see no point in fighting any more to keep a pro-Iranian regime enthroned in Baghdad. If he says he needs money to keep fighting, most Americans are prepared to keep funding the troops, but they want the troops headed home. The average American isn’t rash, but isn’t interested in a decade of counter-insurgency. Paying for a fighting withdrawal makes some sense; paying to get deeper in the Big Muddy doesn’t.

So, when/if he vetoes the money for the troops, it’s going to be hard for him to blame the legislature. To get the money (funds he says are vital) he must accept a timeline for withdrawal. In other words, he must accept the will of the people as expressed in the November elections and in all the polls since. If he turns down the money, they aren’t going to turn on Congress. They are going to say Mr. Bush isn’t listening. And when that happens, the Democrats could just let the funding sit in committee as Mr. Bush grows more desperate for money. Compromise is a verb this administration ought to learn while it still has a shred of relevance.

© Copyright 2007 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

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