in congressional hearings. Rep. Jim Moran (D., Va.) is quoted in the New York Observer explaining, “We could be having a hearing every day.” As a member of the defense appropirations subcommittee, Moran predicts, “We are going to be very busy.” Rep. Charlie Rangel, a veteran of the Korean War, colorfully explains why there is little support for cutting off funds for the war, “If my black ass was in Korea during the war and people got fed up with it and they cut off the money so I couldn’t get some snowshoes or underwear — well, goddamn, you are cutting the wrong people.” Democrats also remember John Kerry’s ridiculed defense of his vote against $87 billion for the war in Iraq.

I wouldn’t expect a significant change in the opinion of a war-weary and skeptical public following tonight’s speech — that will take evidence that the new military mission is working — but if the President is persuasive, the case he makes could keep public opinion from further eroding in response to the Democrats’ hearings that they hope will cause public support for the war to collapse utterly.

PS – Some polls show public opinion surprisingly divided. According to a CBS News poll of adults, 47 percent think the US is very/somewhat likely to succeed in Iraq, with 49 percent thinking that unikely. Forty-five percent support a short-term increase in troops to try to gain control of Baghdad, while 48 percent oppose an increase.