[BlackRazor]

With November right around the corner, the Democrats have to either give Bush what he wants or risk getting anhilated at the polls!

Not necessarily. Daschle can surely arrange that the hearings are still on-going at the time Congress adjourns on October 11. That way the Dems don't have to go on record with a vote, but can still say that they are carefully debating this serious matter. To paraphrase them: "You know, you can't rush these kinds of things." I would be very surprised if there is actually a vote on this before the election.

[The G Man]

"Daschle can surely arrange that the hearings are still on-going at the time Congress adjourns on October 11"

I think we (the White House and Republican congressional leaders) then begin a hue and cry about "How dare congress go home when we are on the verge of war!" and totally put the Dems back on the defensive.

[dpwiener]

Daschle can surely arrange that the hearings are still on-going at the time Congress adjourns on October 11. That way the Dems don't have to go on record with a vote, but can still say that they are carefully debating this serious matter.

No Daschle can't. Bush would rip the Democrats to shreds if they tried to delay a vote. And he'd just call Congress back into special session, which would prevent everybody from campaigning in the critical weeks before the election and would focus the whole country's attention on the Democrat's obstructionism. Bush has the Dems between a rock and a hard place, especially since they were the ones most demanding Congressional involvement.