Nancy Pelosi - Delivers the Goods, and She Credits Anti-War Leaders for Passage

Nancy Pelosi delivered exactly the number of votes she needed to pass the supplemental funding bill. Two Republicans voted for the bill, but Pelosi didn't need them. She got it done by effectively managing the caucus.

I really wish that Democrats could have put real teeth (ie. funding reductions and restrictions) into their bill, and that the alternative to this plan wasn't one that contained no restrictions at all, but that was the reality. And given the situation, Pelosi got just enough. Perhaps she had a few more in hand as well, if needed.

But more than that, Speaker Pelosi went out of her way to thank the leaders of the Out of Iraq group for ceasing to whip opposition and allowing the bill the gain enough support for it to pass. This resulted in a standing ovation from the caucus. Thank goodness we didn't see credit given to group of Blue Dogs (apparently not including Harman) who watered the bill down. The political situation apparently required those changes.

But it was Waters, Woolsey and Jackson who compromised the most, after having enforceable troop withdrawal language taken out of the bill. They deserve the credit, and Pelosi gave it to them.