Oh, for crying out loud...

I take back the nice things I said about Senate Democrats last night. They ARE a bunch of wussy-ass cowards:

Senate Republicans decided this week that they would not allow votes on substantive bills relating to Bush’s Iraq policy, but they will push a resolution condemning MoveOn.org for questioning the credibility of a general executing Bush’s Iraq policy. As of a few minutes ago, the gambit worked.

For procedural reasons, the Senate GOP was able to force its MoveOn resolution onto the floor this afternoon, but Senate Dems made it a little tougher for members by offering an alternative resolution. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) sponsored a measure that condemned all political attacks on U.S. troops. That included the “Betray Us” ad, but it also included smearing John Kerry in 2004 and attacks on Max Cleland in 2002.

[snip]

When Boxer’s amendment came to the floor, it needed 60 votes to pass. Republicans, regrettably, voted against the measure.

Shortly thereafter, Sen. Cornyn’s more narrow, anti-MoveOn measure received a vote, and passed easily, thanks to 25 Dems breaking ranks. The final tally was 72-25.

Barbara Boxer should be ashamed of herself. I realize that she's trying to play a "sauce for the goose" game here, but this is ridiculous. It's a fucking newspaper ad; an opinion ad, covered by the right of free speech -- the same right of free speech that allows Ann Coulter to call John Edwards a faggot and allowed Jesse Helms to say that if Bill Clinton ever came to North Carolina, he should watch his back. By going along with this, the Democrats play right into the Republican narrative.

That said, the Republicans look ridiculous here as well, while we're on the subject of wussy-asses. They're like the sniveling little kid who tattles on every other kid on the block when they don't play his way. They want to have it both ways on David Petraeus. On the one hand, he's this noble, tough military guy -- wearing the kind of drag that makes wingnuts go weak in the knees. On the other hand, he's this fragile flower who can't cope with having mean things said about him and needs Senate Republicans to protect him.

Petraeus' own boss called him "an ass-kissing little chickensh*t". And it appears that his own troops may have called him "General Betrayus" long before MoveOn.org did.

Maybe that explains why Republicans didn't want to vote to give the soldiers some respite between deployments.

Shame on the Democrats for caving in to this kind of nonsense. And shame on MoveOn.org if they give another DIME to any of them.

UPDATE: Great minds think alike.