It’s just not a good year. Approval ratings in the toilet and now this!

“Unable to garner enough Republican support, Senate Democratic leaders said yesterday that they are abandoning a bipartisan effort to bring U.S. troops home from Iraq by next spring.

Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) said that Democrats had been willing to make the troop withdrawal a “goal” in order to attract GOP support, but it never materialized. Instead, Reid will again push for a firm deadline, this time June 2008, along with a stronger effort at cutting off war funding.

“It’s all definite timelines,” Reid said.

The Senate will resume the war debate today, and Reid invited Republicans to offer proposals. His spokesman said that several possibilities are being negotiated, although it appeared unlikely they will meet the 60-vote threshold to pass.

In recent weeks, Reid and other Democratic leaders had indicated they were willing to look for compromise with Republicans. Last week, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, reported to Congress that he might be able to begin a small withdrawal later this year but that force levels would still be about the same next summer as they had been before President Bush’s January order of an increase of 21,500 combat troops.”

First, this article does a lot of “assuming”. Let’s be clear, Harry Reid and the Democrats have NEVER attempted any such compromise, and Republicans have never been behind a retreat. It’s all smoke and mirrors with Reid.

For the Democrats - except for the blue dogs and Liebermann, it’s always been “war is lost, let’s get out!”. Just as I have been saying all along, the only way the Democrats get their way is by pulling the funding fot the war and THEY ARE NOT GOING TO DO THAT. At least not before the ‘08 election, it would simply be political suicide.

The American public is not behind such a retreat and if Democrats would attempt to pull funding - especially with a 11-point approval they could all be writing memoirs by January 2009.

I think Capt Ed is giving Reid more credit than he deserves. A pick pocket might give your wallet back after ripping it, but minus the money and the credit cards. In any case he is still a thief. Reid might look like he is downshifting his stance but don’t you believe it. He’s a snake oil land baron and always has been. He’s been ripping wallets for a long time.

Remember what is being talked about here. RETREAT - pure and simple. Any Republican who sides with Reid is gone at their next election, and they know it.

Consequently is also true for Democrats who can’t get troops out by yesterday to satisfy their cowardly cut and run and hug a terrorist masses.