WHEN YOU AREN'T A LEADER, NO ONE FOLLOWS:

Democrats wary of the commitment (Susan Milligan and Lisa Wangsness, December 2, 2009 , Boston Globe)

Key Democrats yesterday offered tepid endorsements or were openly skeptical of the president’s deployment decision. After Obama’s speech, Senate majority leader Harry Reid of Nevada praised Obama’s “sound strategy,’’ but pointedly noted that “our resources are not unlimited and our commitment is not open-ended.’’

The Senate’s second-ranking Democrat, Dick Durbin of Illinois, offered no promise of support, and Democratic Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin threatened to try to block funding for the troop increase.

In the House, many Democrats are skittish about escalating the war - and how to pay for it.

Critics From Across the Spectrum Rip Plan (PETER WALLSTEN, 12/02/09, Wall Street Journal)

A barrage of instant criticism blasting President Barack Obama's new Afghanistan strategy from across the political spectrum signaled the challenges ahead in selling the plan to a skeptical public and Congress.

Some of Mr. Obama's most loyal supporters among liberal grass-roots groups denounced the 30,000-troop escalation—despite a newly revealed plan for a quick drawdown that White House officials had hoped would mollify the left.

Perhaps this speech, and the disastrous response thereto, will finally put to rest the notion he's a competent, nevermind eloquent, communicator.

Posted by Orrin Judd at December 2, 2009 6:37 AM