Ain't going to underwrite war no more...

Well, it's about time. I've been calling for this for weeks now. If we're to endure political theater then let it be serious drama rather than Keystone Kops comedy over non-binding positions. The Senate is finally talking about revoking the war resolution that got us into Iraq and redrafting it to better fit the present day circumstances.

Murtha's proposal to at least require humane parameters for deployment has been declared all but dead in the water. I didn't hate that one, but this is so much better. I don't know that it will stop Bush in his loopy quest for historical significance as a "war president" but one hopes it will at least slow him down and echoing the language of the widely accepted Iraq Study Group's proposals was a canny move that deflects a lot of potential GOP smearing points. I would suggest however, the Senate doesn't drag its feet quibbling over the details since this statement is troubling.

The White House said Friday that the 2002 authorization is still active and in place, and that the administration plans to wait until legislation is completed before taking a stand.

"I'm not going to talk about hypothetical legislation," White House spokesman Tony Fratto said. "Obviously, the president intends, and his focus is on, having the resources and flexibility to carry out our operations on the ground. We don't know where they're going. The Democrats seem to be clearly divided on what they're going to do."

I read that to mean the White House can see their grand plans are about to be thwarted and may just move up their timetable to avoid Senate intervention. Cornering a savage beast is a dangerous business. If anyone over there listened to me, I'd urge the Senate to move swiftly and decisively on this before the White House pre-empts them.