The bill’s passage isn’t a surprise, of course. Democrats have to reassure MoveOn.org that they’re still committed to failure and retreat from Iraq. For the record, 15 Democrats opposed the bill, 4 Republicans favored it, and 1 member voted “present”. Bush is, and has been, promising a veto, and Republicans say they’ll stand behind him. Translation: It was a symbolic gesture — nothing else.

Anyway, here’s how The New York Times covered the debate:

In two hours of rancorous debate on the House floor, Republicans stressed the recent progress in Iraq while Democrats said that the political situation remained bleak and that it was time to pull out American troops.

“The sacrifice of our troops was simply not met by the actions of the Iraqi government,” said Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Democrat of California. “This legislation today offers something fundamentally different than what President Bush is proposing, a 10-year war, a war without end costing trillions of dollars. It provides the tools to our troops so they can get the job done. It also presents a strategy that will bring them home, responsibly, honorably, safely and soon.”

…For Republicans, the debate provided another chance to accuse the Democrats of wasting time. “Today, if my calculations are right, we will have our 58th vote on trying to restrain the commanders in the field in Iraq,” said Representative Roy Blunt of Missouri, the Republican whip. “The Democrats appear to never get tired of foregone conclusions, to never get tired of doing the same thing over and over again with the same result — the ultimate Groundhog Day of legislation that doesn’t get us anywhere.”

The White House also hammered the Democrats in Congress. Dana Perino, the White House press secretary, promised a veto and accused the Democrats of ignoring gains in Iraq.

The last paragraph will make you wonder if this is in the editorial section, but of course the entire NYT is an editorial.

The debate over war financing also provided a forum for Republicans to praise recent developments in Iraq, including what they called a decline in violence.

I’m sorry, “what they call a decline in violence”? “What they call”? Let’s review: 70% drop in violence. American troop deaths down. Assassination attempts down. Car bombings down. Militias disbanding. Iraqis helping the US fight al Qaeda. And that’s even being picked up by NBC and ABC.

“What they call”? What would you call it, NYT?

Via Michelle (who reminded me of the cartoon).