The Parable of the Cave-In? In the parable of the cave, Plato describes the difference between the appearance of the handshadows on the cave wall, which is all that observers see and know of reality, political and otherwise. The shadows are distortions projected for popular consumption, while leaders' actual words and gestures indicate the reality that is to follow, according to Plato in The Republic, his most famous dialogue. So it appears in the case of the ongoing FY 2008 budget dialogue between the While House and congressional leaders. While veto threats and promise to override grab the headlines, the reality is somewhat different. A signal moment in the budget deliberations was the decision last week by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to schedule a vote on OMB Director-nominee Jim Nussle immediately following the August recess, avoiding a protracted clash over Nussle on the Senate floor. As battles raged in Congress during the days prior to the recess, the first family and Mr. and Ms. Pelosi (D-CA) sat down to a quiet dinner that Tuesday. Summits among Bush, Reid, and Pelosi are workmanlike and progress is being made, reportedly. As Congress Daily put it last week, both sides "view each other as vital for achieving things Democrats can take to voters and President Bush can use to buff his legacy." For OMB Watch's own dialogue examining the madness, mathematics, and metaphysics behind the Bush approach to the FY 2008 budget, click here.