And, probably for the best, considering the cards they had were a ten-high.

The damage: the Murtha Proviso gutted with waivers; a fig-leaf in the form of benchmarks for the Iraqi government which, if not would, would lead to - oh, the humanity! - a requirement on Bush to submit a withdrawal plan to Congress.

Not that he has to actually withdraw any troops; just submit the program.

The story obviously deserves maturer consideration - not least because there is not a single pol quoted on the record. Caveat maxime lector!

But - at first sight, it looks as if the House Dems have capitulated to the WH without a round being fired.

There's more...

If the transcript doesn't lie, Murtha has lowered his sights to his colleague's distinctly modest lowest common denominator position on Iraq legislation.

For one thing, his Proviso will be waiver-thin. Except that the waiver will be dressed up:

MR. RUSSERT: You are going to withhold the money unless those troops were--had readiness or were prepared, but now you've changed your view. You will allow those troops to go to Iraq in that situation or condition, as long as the president certifies that. Correct?

REP. MURTHA: Well, he's got to certify that--at least this is what I'm recommending to the committee--he's got to certify that these troops are equipped, and they are trained, or it's in the national interest...

'he's got to certify that'?! The guy who fixed the intelligence around the policy is going to be trusted to certify honest injun that all units being deployed to Iraq are in apple-pie order?!

There's more...

According to the Hilltoday, Pelosi is planning to buy off opposition to an Iraq supplemental bill including the Murtha Proviso:

House Democratic leaders will add nearly $4 billion for farmers to a bill funding military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan to attract conservative Democrats concerned that the measure would wrongly constrict President Bush's power as commander in chief.

Democrats may also add money for children's health insurance in the hope of winning the votes of Republicans such as Illinois Reps. Mark Kirk (R) and Judy Biggert (R), whose home state faces a $240 million deficit in its State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

There's more...