Theatrical release for Iraq spending bill

By Libby

Let's face it, politics is half showmanship and it's the perception and not the policy that makes the points. Certainly the root of the problems in our current system of governance is that all too often, style beats substance. Still, you can't help but love the timing on the delivery of the military spending bill.

Democratic leaders in Congress are planning a special ceremony on Tuesday afternoon to send President Bush a bill that sets timetables for troop withdrawal from Iraq.

The timing is no accident. It comes on the fourth anniversary of the day Mr. Bush stood on an aircraft carrier under the banner “Mission Accomplished” and declared that major combat operations in Iraq had ended.

One hopes they'll have a backdrop of George in his flight suit at the photo-op. But even without it, Bush will have a hard time upstaging the Dems on this one. Not that he apparently isn't going to try.

But with Mr. Bush planning to spend Tuesday in Florida talking with military commanders, the White House was being coy on Monday about what kind of theatrics of his own — if any — he might stage. Democrats, however, said they expected the veto to come Wednesday.

Mr. Bush’s spokesman, Tony Snow, said, “We’ll make clear what we intend and how we intend to do it at the proper time.”

The only thing Bush could do to diminish the Democratic party's impact on this one is to sign the bill instead of veto it. In fact, if I was him, that's exactly what I would do. I mean, what an out that would give him. He could then claim any further failures in Iraq are because the Dems set a timetable for withdrawal. It would create a whole new set of talking points for his few remaining loyalists.

In any event, it would sure beat the hell out of another banal 9/11 speech.