[The G Man]

Personally, I think Bush played this beautifully.

First they leak this story about the White House Counsel's Office giving them a legal opinion that they don't need Congressional approval. This sends the Democrats and the media into an uproar demanding Congress be involved ... so what does Bush do? He gives them exactly what they want ... a vote on using force vs Iraq! LOL! With November right around the corner, the Democrats have to either give Bush what he wants or risk getting anhilated at the polls!

Bravo, Mr President!

[Dog Gone]

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

Precisely the point I was going to make. In any event, it should help in the election anyway as it will unite the country around the President.

[Semper Paratus]

Forget Enron, Social Security, Prescription drugs, the talk in Congress now, going up to November, will be Iraq and the war on terror.

Pound sand Dasshole.

[kjam22]

I agree the timing is good. And it is no accident. And I think in about late November we'll start an operation that takes about a year. And Bush will be riding high into the campaign season for the 04 election. And none of that will be by coincidence either.

[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.

[js1138]

For those of my generation, this is called, "Please don't throw me in the briar patch!"

[mwl1]

Excellent post and of course correct. You should blast post this so that other freepers can learn something.

And, for those who suggest that Daschle can avoid a vote before the midterm elections, they are wrong. He can't, because there is too much media attention riding on this, and, if he were to obstruct, it opens the door to his greatest weakness -- obstructing the president's agenda.

[MaeWest]

Bush played this beautifully.

'Jwalsh' commented on another thread it is "like watching Rembrandt paint."
Beautifully played indeed!

[MeekOneGOP]

Personally, I think Bush played this beautifully......

Amen !

[Robert_Paulson2]

"the Democrats have to either give Bush what he wants or risk getting anhilated at the polls! "

They will probably experience both... MOST of the nation blames our vulnerability to 9/11, at least a substantial portion of it on the "love the earth, hate all wars" crowd that serviced clinton's bent...

I expect that the slaughter on november five, politically will be worse than daschle's nightmares can forsee. The public sentiment will be sooo strong and stern, dems may never recover as a party...

Goodbye dem party. Hello, fractured derivitives thereof... greenies, anti war, anti capitalist, and socialist conservatives...