Yesterday's New York Times gives us some insight into the Democratic strategy behind backing out of the Iraq redeployment timetable.

Democrats said they did not relish the prospect of leaving Washington for a Memorial Day break — the second recess since the financing fight began — and leaving themselves vulnerable to White House attacks that they were again on vacation while the troops were wanting. That criticism seemed more politically threatening to them than the anger Democrats knew they would draw from the left by bowing to Mr. Bush.

Here's a crazy idea. What if the Democrats said that they were going to pass a bill with a redeployment timeline, and that if they couldn't get it done before the Memorial day recess, then they would cancel the recess and stay in Washington to make sure that the people's work got done. Put the Republicans on the defense. Let them grumble about not having time off, and let them be the ones holding up the supplemental.

President Bush's numbers are in the toilet, and about 70 percent of Americans want the US out of Iraq.

For crying out loud, people, it's a no-brainer.