David Yepson on Joe Biden, a profile in courage.
Both David Ignatius and David Broder are saying that Bush has seen the handwriting on the wall and will change strategy come September. I’ve got my doubts. I mean, if he’s going to do it in September, why not now? I still think that what the Davids–and others–are picking up is lobbying from the rest of the administration, especially Gates and Rice, against the Cheney draft-deferred zealots, hoping to win the President’s heart and mind…even though Bush says he now supports the B-H Plan.
Broder is right about this, for sure: John Warner will be the key to what happens next. He’s on the record as saying he thinks it’s not a good idea for American troops to be stuck in the middle of a civil war in Baghdad. And yet he’s voted with Bush most every step on the way. And he’s up for reelection in 2008…but he may not be running. My guess is–and perhaps I’m being optimistic–Warner’s deadline is September.
A Note of Etiquette: The feelings of many Swampland commenters about David Broder and the Washington Post are well established. Why don’t we push ahead and talk about why this story is floating around Washington right now and whether Bush is actually ready to change?