That is strictly for “plausible deniability”. If, in a future campaign, an opponent accuses them of either voting for or against defunding the war, they can claim that they were actually casting their vote based upon the Water bill, it really wasn’t about that silly amendment that was sure to be vetoed by the President anyway.

This is a win-win for the Democrats. The ones from the most Moon-batty districts can vote for the measure. The ones from more moderate districts that don’t support outright surrender can vote against it. Even if it passes the House and Senate (which it won’t, but even if, by some fluke, it did) Bush would veto it so, no harm no foul as far as the Dems are concerned. Not only that, but their signaling that we as a nation don’t have the backbone to see this through strengthens the resolve of our enemies and keeps them fighting which gives the Dems further fodder for decrying “Bush’s war”.

They simply cannot lose in this game.