LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES

To the humanitarian supporters of war: when will you start pressuring the President to give up the idea of huge tax cuts and huge budget deficits? The President's tax proposal is going to squeeze the budget and make long-term financial commitments to democracy-building in Iraq and Afghanistan even more unlikely. If the Democrats have a tendency to break the budget by spending too much, the Republicans have an equally dangerous tendency to break the budget by promising generous tax cuts that will benefit wealthy constituents.

President Bush is probably trying to make Democrats use political capital by forcing them to advocate unpopular tax measures. There is no way around the conclusion that this is rank irresponsibility on the part of the administration.

Listen to Senator McCain:

One senator who says he wants to delay votes on taxes, John McCain, Republican of Arizona, said he was open to the idea of reducing taxes, "but not now." In a speech on the Senate floor, Mr. McCain added, "Not until Congress and the administration have a better understanding of the costs of war and peace."