Great post. You're 100 percent right. Sitting around finger-pointing and complaining and whining is not going to change one thing. That's especially true for those whose fingers are pointing at their own. (Disclaimer: I don't consider John McCain and the six weasels our own, so I feel free to point all I want in that direction.)
Do I think mistakes were made? Almost certainly. I think President Bush could have been more publicly vocal about this, and put more public pressure on the weinies in the Senate. Someday we'll probably find out why he didn't, but he still has that opportunity. It's not a knockout, the administration just lost this round.
Decisions related to political infighting are probably not simple or easy, and when you're fighting an opponent totally without conscience and scruples, and you have those, it's even harder. It doesn't help that they have virtually every media mouthpiece in the U.S. working their propaganda for them.
Let's get back to fighting for our side. It's what's got us where we are and it's what will win the next battle. And there will always be another battle, no matter what. We can't afford to leave the field to the other side because we're disgusted that this particular battle was lost.
He understands the separation of powers. He can hardly wield strong Executive powers, while poking his nose into legislative branch powers. When he does that sort of thing, it has to be done behind the scenes. His Constitutional responsibility is more important than his position in his party.
Someday we'll probably find out why he didn't, but he still has that opportunity. It's not a knockout, the administration just lost this round.
This round is not even over yet, much less lost. As long as there are people in the ring getting bloody, the round is still going on. Landing one punch against us is not scored as a win in the round.
The round doesn't end until the votes are counted in the '06 election. It will be scored by how many seats in both houses have been picked up or lost ~and~ how many lifetime judicial positions have been gained. The big event is the Supreme Court. If the 5-4 split there is made more conservative by '08, we will have won big! Every Circuit Court that is turned in our favor is also a big win.
The UN position... If the WH doesn't get who they want there, it drifts further towards League of Nation status. IOW, it becomes more irrelevant. OTOH, if the WH can start cleaning house there, it could start to go back towards being what it was meant to be, a service organization.