The behavior of leading democrats has been nothing less than bizarre in the week leading up to war. Senate Minority leader Tom Daschle led the pack with his comments, referring both to Bush's "failed diplomacy" and then declaring he would hold up the President's tax cut as an act of "patriotism." Senator John Kerry then weighed in with his own ill-timed comments about the need to wait "weeks or months" before taking action, saying nevertheless he "supported the troops." Being a democrat this week and saying "I support the troops" is like being a democrat a month ago and saying "of course I believe Saddam Hussein is a miserable human being." Even Howard Dean promised to cease criticizing the President "by name" during the war. At least he won't be calling him "little Bush." The man in the street can hardly figure the difference between these guys and the French, who now tell us they will support us after all if Saddam uses chemical weapons. Go figure that one. Ever hear of an "ounce of prevention?"

 Confused? You should be. Finding a liberal democrat with a moral compass is like finding a tank in a Kuwaiti sand-storm. Politics and anti-Bush fever is what drives these guys and they haven't a clue when to turn it off, even in the face of war. The truth is they are desperately afraid America will win, the war will be short and Iraq might start on the road to democracy. Apparently, this is bad for them, even though it is good for America and the rest of the world. Bad because they lose politically. Bad because for them politics is everything.

 So lets watch them. Lets see if as events unfold, they can at least pretend to put the interests of the country ahead of their own. This will be the telling sign. When the war is won and the troops are home and Iraqis are free once again and there is one of those glimmering moments in the House of Representatives. The President is speaking and we are sharing a proud episode as a nation. Will these guys be smiling? Will they be glad? If they are, will they mean it? That will be the sign.

  John Pendleton