[lormand]

"Well, my point is that from GW Bush's perspective asking for the bill was a losing proposition, and would have cost him political capital."

How would this cost him political capital?

The story is about how they are trying to get Christians to vote the next election. Is not attempting to ban partial birth abortion going to persuade Christian into voting again?

[Poohbah]

If partial-birth abortion were the ONLY issue facing America in this Year of our Lord Two Thousand and One, then you might have a point.

However, it isn't--and it never was, either.

Most Americans would NOT appreciate the inevitable filibuster that would have hit, and they would have blamed Bush and the GOP for provoking it.