Appallingly Craven

Rep. David Dreier just admitted on Hugh Hewitt's show that the House's resolution condemning the publication of classified material in time of war will not name the press organs that betrayed a classified national security program.

How craven. Of course every politician in Washington is afraid of angering the mighty New York Times and suffering the unflattering coverage that might result therefrom, but they're paid and elected to represent their constituents -- who are outraged by what's occurred and expect the Times' unprecedented abuse of the First Amendment not to go specifically unrebuked.

Without naming the transgressors, the resolution is transformed from a righteous, significant and historical reprimand to a largely impotent statement of principle that sounds good, but is so general that it could encompass everyone or no one.

In policy terms -- badly done. And in political terms, too -- great job of snatching political defeat from the jaws of victory: First, by undermining the morale of the base, which expects a little more valor from House Republicans, and second, by producing a resolution that doesn't name The Times, thereby making it infinitely easier for Democrats costlessly to support.