Playing Catch-Up with Bush

To stoop to a sports metaphor, Democrats in Congress have entered the Iraq game with Bush at the start of the fourth quarter, losing badly.

Their first instinct--to throw Hail Mary passes (timetables for withdrawal, cut-off of funding)—hasn’t moved them an inch toward the goal line. Trick plays, such as non-binding resolutions, have thrown them for losses.

Now their coaches are ready to do it the hard way--grinding out small gains. The House will vote this week on a resolution that, in the approving words of a New York Times editorial, imposes benchmarks for much-needed political progress on the Iraqi government--and links them to the continued presence of American forces.”

Such benchmarks, like a series of first downs, will move the country toward its goal. We can only hope that the likes of Karl Rove and Alberto Gonzales will not be carrying the ball.