The Note: War over the War

May 7, 2007— -- They're starting as whispers, throwaway lines that are easy to miss amid broad promises of party unity. But at the very moment that both the White House and congressional Democrats need members of their parties to fall in line, the rank-and-file is growing restless.

There was House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) yesterday, pleading for patience with the "troop surge" but then setting a deadline of his own by which House Republicans – attention, Mr. President – expect progress. "By the time we get to September or October, members are going to want to know how well this is working, and if it isn't, what's Plan B," Boehner said, on a day that the US suffered six more combat deaths in Iraq. LINK

The Bush White House has never been known for its strong relationships with Congress, so here's a translation: When congressional leaders talk about the "will of the members," that's code for, "I'm on borrowed time with my folks." The Washington Post's David Broder wrote yesterday that politicians will eventually follow the public in ending the war. "It is hard to imagine the Republicans going into the presidential election of 2008 with 150,000 American troops still taking heavy casualties in Iraq," Broder wrote. LINK

On the Democratic side, former senator John Edwards (D-N.C.) made clear on ABC's "This Week" that he will continue to push Democrats to use Congress' "funding authority" to insist on a troop pull-out, even though Democratic leaders are shopping compromise proposals that stop short of that. "America has asked the Democratic leadership in the Congress to stand firm, and that's exactly what I'm saying they should do," Edwards said, as he leads the leftward scramble on the war among 2008 presidential candidates. LINK

Moveon.org delivered an even starker message to congressional Democrats last week, The New York Times' Michael Luo reported in a Sunday must-read write-up of the discipline and clout of anti-war groups. "If Democrats appear to capitulate to Bush - passing a bill without measures to end the war - the unity Democrats have enjoyed and Democratic leadership has so expertly built, will immediately disappear," the liberal group wrote to congressional leaders. LINK

President Bush enjoys (or suffers through) a day of pomp and pageantry with a royal visit today. It's not easy being queen, and the presidency isn't particularly pleasurable these days either: The war-spending bill Democrats are crafting will probably hold back more than half the money Bush wants pending a second vote in July, David Rogers reports today in The Wall Street Journal. LINK

By then, both sides will have heard plenty more from their bases.

The weekend wrap-up:

In what surely won't be the last of these stories, the Journal's Christopher Cooper has details of a possible Rudolph Giuliani conflict of interest: his consulting business represented both sides in a bankruptcy proceeding, without disclosing that fact to a federal judge. "The matter could heighten pressures on Mr. Giuliani's presidential campaign to be more forthcoming about the candidate's stable of businesses, their clients and the services they provide," Cooper writes. LINK

Mike Dorning of The Chicago Tribune sees the Democrats gettin' religion on the campaign trail. "Reversing recent political history, it's the leading Republican candidates who for various reasons have so far been reluctant to speak too much about matters of faith," Dorning wrote Sunday.LINK

Case in point: Former governor Mitt Romney (R-Mass.) spoke yesterday at Pat Robertson's Regent University and "steered clear of his religion," the Boston Globe's Scott Helman, reports. Robertson even had to intervene on Romney's behalf to quell students' objections to having a Mormon deliver the commencement address. LINK

Edwards' poverty plans get a scrub courtesy of The Washington Post's Alec MacGillis, who sees a platform that "consists primarily of ideas that have been percolating in the academy for years and are shared by some other candidates." LINK

Fortune's Nina Easton profiles Edwards, emphasizing his efforts to champion organized labor – and court Danny Glover. LINK

No announcement yet, but former senator Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.) looked like a presidential candidate Friday night in California, complete with candidate-worthy scrutiny. "When our problems seem to be getting bigger, our politicians seem to be getting smaller," said the man whose size is beyond question. LINK

Conservative columnist Robert Novak judged the appearance a "letdown:" "It was not Reaganesque." "No red meat." "Too low key." LINK

In another presidential wild card, Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) said on Bloomberg Television's "Political Capital" yesterday that an independent run for president is "possible." LINK

Also worth keeping an eye on:

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) got off on the wrong foot with Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, with a testy exchange involving the ear stud that Kilpatrick doesn't even wear anymore, according to Stephen Henderson of the Detroit Free Press. LINK

Obama is in Detroit today, where he will talk tough with the auto industry in calling on carmakers to boost fuel standards. "The auto industry's refusal to act for so long has left it mired in a predicament for which there is no easy way out," he plans to say, per his campaign.

While Michelle Obama hits the trail today in New Hampshire, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) spends the day in the Obamas' hometown with a 12:30 pm speech and an evening fundraiser in Chicago.

Coming off a debate where he looked downright liberal compared to his rivals, Giuliani addresses the conservative Heritage Foundation in Washington, DC, at 8:15 pm ET.

As a candidate in 2000, Bush delighted audiences with a line that declared, "No more new tuxes." But his full day of royal events will be capped by a white-tie-and-tails state dinner honoring Queen Elizabeth II.

The kicker:

"I confess that I don't listen to Rush on a daily basis," Obama, declining to take offense to a parody song, "Barack the Magic Negro," that Rush Limbaugh has been airing.LINK

Today's Must-Reads:LINK

The Sneak Peek:LINK