No Retreat from Defeat, Decides House

In a turn of events that will shock only The Onion staff, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives voted against an immediate withdrawal of US troops from Iraq last Friday night. Perhaps "staying the course" fits better with a season of tradition, as lawmakers head home for Thanksgiving. At least critics of Iraqi occupation had the fun of watching Bush and Cheney make fools of themselves by knocking the patriotic credentials of Democrat Rep. Murtha, who has a purple-heart to match their evasive action from military combat.

I think what Sen. Kerry had to say sums up the Republicans flurring accusations of 'traitor' and 'surrender' at the moment of victory:

It disgusts me that a bunch of guys who have never put on the uniform of their country venomously turn their guns on a Marine who came home from Vietnam with a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts.

Just in time to prime for the critical Congressional elections next year, DailyKos provides this update from Reuters:

The Republican National Committee on Friday unveiled a new television advertisement accusing Senate Democrats of dishonesty for turning against a war they originally supported, although polls show the broad U.S. public following a similar track from support to disillusionment.

Former Clinton Aid and current Brookings fellow, Ivo Daadler, in an interview with the Council for Foreign Relations says:

I think the importance of the [Senate] compromise [that implies a timetable for withdwarwal but doesn't create one] is less about the specifics of what was actually voted upon in the amendment, than the message we're trying to send, which is this: "Mr. President, we don't have any confidence anymore that things are going well in Iraq. We need you to lay out a clear strategy and a clear plan for what we're going to do, how we're going to do it, and when we're going to be finished. If you don't do that, we will likely step in later on to do it for you."