EckerNet.Com

Earlier this year things were looking pretty bad for Republicans. Their base didn\’t like them. The general public didn\’t like them. Even on issues like national security, the public trusted the Democrats more than Republicans…..until the surge.

When Bush proposed the Surge, even Democrats from miles around sprinted to the nearest microphone to declare that it was never gonna work. Then reality set in and Democrats had to eat crow. What\’s worse, now polls indicate that the public no longer trusts the Democrats on national security. And things were going so well!!!

Well apparently the Democrats can be taught new tricks, because they are making it clear they aren\’t going to make the same mistake on the \”quiet surge\”.

Bush said the battalion, roughly 1,000 Marines, now headed to Afghanistan in November will be followed in January by an Army combat brigade. A brigade is 3,500-4,000 troops.

The move answers in part calls from Democrats to shift troops out of Iraq to a more sizable force in Afghanistan. Still, Democrats quickly shot back that Bush isn\’t doing enough to get troops out of Iraq, and into Afghanistan, where violence is rising.

\”The president\’s plan to reduce force levels in Iraq may seem to signal movement in the right direction, but it really defers troop reductions until the next administration,\” said House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton, D-Mo. \”More significant troop reductions in Iraq are needed so that we can start to rebuild U.S. military readiness and provide the additional forces needed to finish the fight in Afghanistan.\”

Said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid: \”I am stunned that President Bush has decided to bring so few troops home from Iraq and send so few resources to Afghanistan.\”

Even \”The One\” is getting in on the act…

Bush\’s \”plan comes up short,\” Obama said. \”It is not enough troops, and not enough resources, with not enough urgency.

\”I am convinced that it is time to change our foreign policy,\” he said, noting that he will withdraw troops from Iraq and create a \”comprehensive strategy to finish the job in Afghanistan.\”

Not enough troops for the Democrats?? Although I\’m a little disappointed that Obama didn\’t miracle a few thousands troops over there. Given his powers, it doesn\’t seem like a daunting task.

But at least it shows that Democrats can learn. Previously they had everything going their way and 2008 was going to be a great year for them. Now they\’ve slowly f-ed it up and watched it fade away. But at least they are attempting to salvage something of their reputation, if not their integrity.