Whips & Chains

HRH Pelosi continues in her struggle to garner votes for the bill to fund the war while remaining true to her liberal underthings as being against the war. The tightrope walk is the first real test of HRH Pelosi and her cabal as they try to hold the Democrats together.

She must persuade at least 218 of the 233 House Democrats to support the legislation, even though many have strong misgivings. It's a risky balancing act that, as of Wednesday, was proving very difficult for Pelosi to pull off, one of her top deputies conceded.

Rep. Rahm Emanuel (Ill.), the Democratic Caucus chairman, said that party leaders still did not have enough votes to pass the measure, but he was confident they would when the bill reaches the floor.

The extreme faction of the party led by Rep Maxine Waters do not want any funding of the war. PERIOD. Unfortunately, the majority of the country does not feel that way. Thus, the Speaker is attempting to prevent a vote that has the potential to make the Democrats look like....uh, hmmm, fools. The basic premise is this bill will allow for the withdrawal on a civilized basis (i.e. it will not offend the majority in the country).

"If they fail to provide our troops with what they need it's on their backs," said Republican Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia.

So HRH Pelosi is whipping, begging and otherwise cajoling the holdouts with promise of retribution, funding for pork projects and anything else that will get them on board.

To get them off the fence and on the bill, Democrats have a key weapon at their disposal: cold, hard cash. The bill contains billions for agriculture and drought relief, children's health care and Gulf Coast hurricane recovery.

For Rep. Sam Farr (D-Calif.), there is $25 million for spinach growers hurt by last year's E. coli scare. For three conservative Democrats in Georgia, there is $75 million for peanut storage. For lawmakers from the bone-dry West, there is $500 million for wildfire suppression. An additional $120 million is earmarked for shrimp and Atlantic menhaden fishermen.

So far, at least in public pronouncements, the $21 billion in funding beyond President Bush's request has earned Democrats nothing but scorn.

Indeed, folks there is so much pork in this bill that the recently elected Muslim, Rep. Keith Ellison, may not be able to support it on religious grounds. Yet, an extended time line just not good enough for Maxine and her pals. They prefer a more condensed scenario. Today, for instance, would be a good day for a full withdrawal, in their view.

So the whips are out and there is a lot of arm twisting going on amongst the Dem faithful. Great entertainment....and yes, humor for a Republican political junkie like Da Bear......stay tuned for the fireworks.