President Bush’s response to the Democrat’s political suicide:

“WASHINGTON (AP) – A sharply divided House voted Friday to order President Bush to bring combat troops home from Iraq next year, a victory for Democrats in an epic war-powers struggle and Congress’ boldest challenge yet to the administration’s policy.

Just over an hour later, Bush appeared at the White House alongside veterans and family members of troops to accuse Democrats of staging nothing more than political theater that delays the delivery of resources to soliders fighting in Iraq.

“A narrow majority in the House of Representatives abdicated its responsibility by passing a war spending bill that has no chance of becoming law and brings us no closer to getting the troops the resoures they need to do their job,” the president said.”

Translation 1: READ MY VETO. The narrow margin will actually widen once Bush issues his veto. But more than just the fact that they don’t have the votes to override, Republicans are going to rightly use this vote to show that Democrats used “backroom” deals to essentially stab them in the back.

Translation 2: They just screwed themselves for 2008.

UPDATE: Rep. Tom Johnson (R-TX) tells it like it is. Democrats should hang their heads in shame. Judas only got thirty pieces of silver.

Also more at Hot Air. Also Gateway Pundit with more reacts.

UPDATE II: From President Bush’s speech:

“..The purpose of the emergency war spending bill I requested was to provide our troops with vital funding. Instead, Democrats in the House, in an act of political theater, voted to substitute their judgment for that of our military commanders on the ground in Iraq. They set rigid restrictions that will require an army of lawyers to interpret. They set an arbitrary date for withdrawal without regard for conditions on the ground. And they tacked on billions for pet projects that have nothing to do with winning the war on terror. This bill has too much pork, too many conditions and an artificial timetable for withdrawal.

As I have made clear for weeks, I will veto it if it comes to my desk. And because the vote in the House was so close, it is clear that my veto would be sustained. Today’s action in the House does only one thing: it delays the delivering of vital resources for our troops. A narrow majority has decided to take this course, just as General Petraeus and his troops are carrying out a new strategy to help the Iraqis secure their capital city….” (h/t NRO’s Corner).

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