Just as surely as the Republican minority in Congress will approve this new $46 billion spike in funding demanded by Pres. Bush for the war in Iraq — an amount that would more than cover the Democrats’ proposed expansion of health insurance coverage for children — the Democrats will get blamed for it:

Setting up another confrontation with congressional Democrats over the war in Iraq, President Bush on Monday sent Congress a $45.9-billion emergency funding request for expenses related to U.S. military campaigns around the world.

The request, which comes on top of $147.5 billion sought by the administration earlier this year, pushes the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to more than $600 billion.

It is a neat trick. Too bad the Dems can’t find a way to counter it.