Call it politics. Call it fear. Call it compromise. Call it D.C. shenanigans. Call it what you want, but Thursday's vote on the Emergency Appropriations Supplemental Bill gave George W. Bush a blank check to continue the mess he created in Iraq. The bill provided needed funding for veterans, Katrina, port security and a myriad of “important” causes and Democrats will happily spin that. 

However, this bill was essentially, if not symbolically, about Iraq. Congressional Democrats have been in a stare down with the President since November’s midterm elections over this issue. A majority of Senate Democrats voted for the bill, not one filibustered. Almost all of the House Democrats voted for a

As the AP said: “In a highly unusual maneuver, House Democratic leaders crafted a procedure that allowed their rank and file to oppose money for the war, then step aside so Republicans could advance it.”

Here's how it is expected to work today in a process only Dick Cheney could love (though you never know - it could change at the last minute). Every bill comes to the House floor with what is known as a "rule" that sets the terms of the debate over the legislation in question. House members first vote to approve this parliamentary rule, and then vote on the legislation. Today, however, Democrats are planning to essentially include the Iraq blank check bill IN the rule itself, by making sure the underlying bill the rule brings to the floor includes no timelines for withdrawal, and that the rule only allows amendments that fund the war with no restrictions - blank check amendments that House Democratic leaders know Republicans will have the votes to pass.

This means that when the public goes to look for the real vote on the Iraq supplemental bill, the public won't find that. All we will find is a complex parliamentary procedure vote, which was the real vote. Democratic lawmakers, of course, will use the Memorial Day recess to tell their angry constituents they really are using all of their power to end the war, that they voted against the Republican blank check amendment which the rule deliberately propels, and that the vote on the rule - which was the real vote for war - wasn't really the important vote, when, in fact, they know very well it is the biggest vote on the war since original 2002 authorization for the invasion. It is a devious, deliberately confusing cherry on top of the manure sundae being served up to the American public, which voted Democrats into office on the premise that they would use their congressional majority to end the war. To read more on these deliberately complex machinations, see Congressional Quarterly's piece just out on the web.

David Sirota's always brilliant blog details exactly what happened on Thursday. However, you spin it, Bush was given what he wants in Iraq...three days before Memorial Day. And yet, some Democrats still have the gall to ask for money to defend us from Bush.

You can register your thoughts with a new poll about what should now be done about Iraq.

America In Solidarity is asking you to contact your Congressional members by calling them at 1-800-862-5530 or writing them a letter and reminding them that Thursday's vote was wrong and the American people and our soldiers deserve better.