It's funny how Bush's own approach has backed him into a corner on this. I can't imagine him signing the Democrats' bill, and yet it seems like the veto is political suicide, given public opinion.

I don't know how, but I completely forgot Sam Brownback is running for President.

More Muck from C-Ville:

More problematic is Davis’ relationship to the Tysons Corner-based consulting company ICG Government. The firm is run by his close friend Donald Upson, who, according to a damning article published last July in The Washington Post, trades on the relationship to drum up business. Among other things, the Post reported, “The firm has arranged for clients to meet with Davis in his congressional office. Upson has set up dinners and receptions with the lawmaker for his clients. And ICG has arranged for clients to testify before Davis’s committee.” The firm also has employed Davis’ wife, Jeannemarie Devolites Davis, as a consultant, and paid her a total of $78,000 in 2005 for working “10 to 20 hours a week,” mostly from home, using her cell phone.

Putting myself in the place of Speaker Pelosi and Harry Reid, I think I would try the following:

Immediately announce House Ways and Means hearings on a "war tax" to pay for the $500 billion we're spending in Iraq that calls for a surcharge on incomes above $1 million/yr. for individuals and a surcharge on oil company revenues over $1 billion. Also announce Senate Armed Services Committee hearings on "war profiteering" and subpoena Halliburton's entire board of directors. Send Bush a bill funding only that part of the vetoed bill that funds Afghanistan with riders for paying for the war.

Next, send funding for Homeland Security out of the vetoed bill, essentially taking up the Iraq Study Group recommendations, but with a rider that takes out some of the more egregious Patriot Act provisions, especially including U.S. Atty and other appointments that do not go through congressional hearings and certain of the wiretap and other "snooping" without warrant provisions.

Next, send the funding bill for domestic military spending on training and replacement parts with the Murtha riders that reduce the burden on the National Guardsmen by reducing the length of tours overseas.

Next, send the funding bill for Iraq, but pare it down to the funding needed only from now until September.

Essentially, I'm talking about some confrontational triangulation, attempting to get things done that require Bush to alienate some of his remaining 30 percent core followers by shearing off the megarich and fiscal conservative base and some of the military and ex military die hards.

A veto is a blunt tool. Legislation can be like a rapier. As Halliburton hearings go forward in this process, Bush will find himself beyond isolated. Also, there MUST be some action to redact the imperial powers of the presidency that he and Cheney have tried to build. He can have Iraq funding, but only at the cost of taxing the rich and losing presidential powers.

Others, more wonky than me, can undoubtedly provide even more finesse to this idea.