Congressional Democrats scramble to get on record in favor of a timetable for Iraq

The New York Times reports that House Democrats scrambled today to find the 218 votes they need tomorrow to pass legislation that would set a timetable to bring American troops home from Iraq.

This is in spite of the fact that as White House spokesman, Tony Snow, put it, the legislation will have "zero chance" of surviving a presidential veto. The Pentagon's has also warned that the legislation could harm the troops.

Snow went on to point out that: “You have people on Capitol Hill trying to buy or cajole votes for a bill that’s not going to pass.”

According to the Times:

The House Republican leader, Rep. John A. Boehner of Ohio, said that passage would “without question lead to failure” in Iraq. He predicted that Congress ultimately would provide the war-fighting money without conditions...

“We will no longer be a rubber stamp for a failing policy that has cost us so much in blood and treasure,” said Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, the majority leader.