Deck Chairs

So many in the Senate are starting to call for al Maliki to leave office. That's just plain stupid:

After returning from a trip to Iraq, Levin and the second-ranking Republican on the armed services committee, Sen. John Warner, issued a joint statement questioning whether the Iraqi government would ever be able to "shed sectarian biases and act in a unifying manner." Levin was then more direct and said he hopes "the parliament will vote the Maliki government out of office."

First of all, it won't make any difference. The sectarian divides are too entrenched. Any leader will have his/her loyalty to the their party, most likel Shiites. Al Maliki's failure has been to be responsive to his constituency. Isn't that how Democracy works?

This is also stupid for the Democrats. By calling for al Maliki's ouster they give Bush yet another "out" and whipping boy. Any focus that is removed from Bush being responsible for this mess is not only incorrect, but it's terrible politics.

Then there's this:

The WP folds into its Levin story a look at how a number of lawmakers are using the August recess to go to Iraq and assess the situation on the ground. Some Democrats are coming back from their trip a little less determined to call for troops to be withdrawn by a specific date. The Post notes Republicans are watching out for these types of claims and, although some have "been clearly taken out of context," it's clear "some Democrats have shifted their views." This raises the possibility that Democrats could be more flexible in their withdrawal demands if there's a change of government in Iraq.

Great journalism eh? "Some Democrats"? If it's true, Dems will be looking at an interparty civil war. Anyone for the 60's again?

Added: Digby discusses this much better than I, pointing out how the punditry senses a new CW emerging that Iraq is getting better!