DEMS GET IT WRONG AGAIN - AT 5:58 P.M. ET:  There was a big meeting at the White House on Afghanistan.  The president invited both Dem and GOP leaders, who dutifully attended, and then made the usual statements to the press afterward.

But the Dems blew it by committing the Republicans to things they'd never agreed to.  When amateurs are at work, it's not a beautiful site to see. 

WASHINGTON (AP) - The top Senate Democrat says lawmakers of both parties assured President Barack Obama on Tuesday that they will rally behind whatever decision he makes on Afghanistan.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said that both Democrats and Republicans told the president, basically, "Whatever decision you make, we'll support it."

Uh, apparently not.  Reid may be a good candidate for remedial English when this is over.

Top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell put it differently. In his words: "I think Republicans will be able to make the decisions for themselves." But he did say a significant number of Republicans would back Obama's next move if U.S. military commanders from the region are truly on board.

COMMENT:  That's an awfully huge "if," especially as members of the Obama secretariat have been trying to push our Afghanistan commander, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, under the bus all week, where he'd join several hundred other expendables. 

It may be unfair (not really), but when the president has leaders from both parties to the White House, I get the feeling he's planning something that will make Slick Willie look like Honest Abe.

October 6, 2009