STOP THE PRESSES!!! BEN NELSON MAY VOTE WITH THE DEMOCRATS

It doesn't happen that frequently but rumors are sweeping Capitol Hill today that renegade "Democrat" Ben Nelson (NE) may actually support his putative political party on something. No exaggeration here: Nelson's voting record is so reactionary and so oriented towards the GOP that it almost makes Lieberman, Landrieu and Baucus appear to be actual Democrats. And when it has come to Bush's war against Iraq, he couldn't have asked for a more supportive rubber stamp than Nelson (well... not counting Lieberman).

So it shocked many people in DC today when Nelson edged closer to the "evolving" Democratic position on the emergency supplemental spending bill that will be voted on in committee tomorrow or Friday. Nelson has worked furiously behind the scenes to make the bill more acceptable to his allies in the GOP. (Last week he joined the Republicans in defeating a similar measure, seeking to begin a phased redeployment out of Iraq by March 31, 2008, on the Senate floor.) Nelson is now saying he's ok with "benchmarks" for the Iraqi puppet government as long as there is no mention of a timeline for withdrawal.

"What I've supported and will continue to support are conditions for staying," Nelson said. "We should certainly look at whether the Iraqi government is sustaining itself, and is in a position to govern itself, taking care of getting an oil agreement, getting after the militia and a lot of other issues. So I will support benchmarks and that's my preferred approach." Behind the scenes he's forcing Reid to supply emergency drought aid for Nebraska in return for his vote.


SAY, WHEN BEN NELSON VOTES WITH THE DEMOCRATS,
ASSUMING IT ACTUALLY HAPPENS . . .

. . . uh, does that constitute bipartisan support?--Ken

Absolutely-- or Dan Boren (D-OK), who's just as bad.-- Howie