Dems planning to hold war funding hostage for liberal spending

Congressional Democrats have been buzzing incessantly of late about a second "stimulus" package in the wake of Bush's package past last month. The Bush economic stimulus bill, which conservatives rightly criticized, has given Democrats license to spend like the drunken sailors they are. Despite the fact that the checks for the first stimulus have not even been printed, Americans are about to be saddled with more deficit spending.

This time though, it will be tied to funding for the Iraq war and it will be directed to liberal spending priorities rather than direct tax rebates. The NY Times reports on the high-stakes game of political chicken:

It is not easy to draw a straight line from the slumping economy to the war in Iraq and a trade deal with Colombia, but Democrats are trying to connect those dots.

Party strategists say that President Bush’s opposition to additional economic recovery proposals and his strong support of the trade pact provide an opportunity to portray Mr. Bush and his Republican allies, notably Senator John McCain, as being insensitive to the economic struggles of Americans while spending billions each month on Iraq.

“There is an economic argument to be made,” said Senator Amy Klobuchar, Democrat of Minnesota. “This administration has not done what it should for the middle class.”

Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the majority leader, said Tuesday that he was preparing to link the war spending directly to the economy at home by using a pending bill to finance combat in Iraq as a proxy for a second stimulus measure. He plans to try to attach to the Iraq money Democratic favorites like an extension of unemployment benefits, a summer jobs program and perhaps local building projects.

“That will be war,” promised Senator Richard M. Burr, Republican of North Carolina.

As it should be.