Meteor Blades has a take on the ....new...compromised spending bill...

Unlike many Kossacks, I sympathize with the Democratic leadership when it comes to Iraq. Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi have difficult situations. You can twist arms, make threats, pressure, cajole and otherwise try to cobble together a majority from Blue Dogs and conservatives like the Nelsons, Pryor, Landrieu and others, but, ultimately, you can’t shout your way to victory

Jane talks about the importance of the vote. The media will report it as a failure of the Democratic Party and there are many that need to be held accountable. TIME is reporting that Nancy Pelosi is not voting for the second amendment of the bill...

The second amendment will, of course, be trickier. It will split the Democratic caucus in half, with as many as 120 Democrats voting no. Among the nays, I'm told, will be House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who will have negotiated a bill that she thinks is the best option for House Democrats but which she personally can't support. Most other Democratic leaders are expected to vote in favor. Still, if only 100 Democrats vote yes, the amendment will require at least 118 Republicans in order to pass...

Obey is giving a presser now. I'll have video soon of it...I knew the Dems didn't have all the votes needed at this time and that's sad. We'll find out who voted where later on. Your thoughts? Michael Tomsky writes: "Cave-in, or smart politics?"

If the celebrated surge hasn't shown results by September, public opinion will harden even more; people will start demanding timelines and Bush will be in a corner.

As indefensible and tragic as the war is, this is the best Democrats can do right now. De-funding would have handed the Republicans a great argument going into next year's election - which is, of course, one in which Democrats have their best shot at winning the White House in a long time. Iraq is Bush's war, and Democrats need to make certain that it stays that way...read on