Rallied by Bush, Skittish G.O.P. Now Embraces War as Issue

Just a few weeks ago, some Republicans were openly fretting about the war in Iraq and its effect on their re-election prospects, with particularly vulnerable lawmakers worried that its growing unpopularity was becoming a drag on their campaigns.

But there was little sign of such nervousness on Wednesday as Republican after Republican took to the Senate floor to offer an unambiguous embrace of the Iraq war and to portray Democrats as advocates of an overly hasty withdrawal that would have grave consequences for the security of the United States. Like their counterparts in the House last week, they accused Democrats of espousing "retreat and defeatism."
...
The approach might yet be upended by more problems in Iraq, as Republicans were reminded this week with reports about two American servicemen who were abducted, tortured and apparently killed. Some polls show a majority of Americans continue to think that entering Iraq was a mistake, and pollsters say independent voters are particularly open to the idea of setting some sort of timetable for withdrawal, the very policy Democrats have embraced and Republicans are now fighting.
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A senior adviser to Mr. Bush said the White House had concluded that it was better to plunge aggressively into the debate on Iraq than to let Democrats play upon clear, public misgivings about the war. "This is going to be a big issue in this election," said the adviser, who was granted anonymity in exchange for agreeing to describe strategic considerations about the war. "Better to shape and fight it — as good and strongly as you can — than to try to run away from it."

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/22/washington/22capital.html?hp&ex=1151035200&en=23087ca8c839a956&ei=5094&partner=homepage

So that's the plan for Iraq? Line up against Democrats and the public? ........woohoo?

Might that someone be a fat headed worm named karl?

I've been wondering what all this bluster and bravado was about. It's all about a fucking election, not about "our security". Shit on them. This is an ill conceived desperate move by them, it is sure to backfire.

No concern about real problems or real governing. Just reward the base, and bamboozle the rest.

about how political advisers were allowed to make all the policy.

They'd much rather ape "cut and run" than have to run down some substance to the issue -even though! how hard is it to get the daily attack count or the death count or a dozen other quick facts?

The cables would so much rather gush about a come-back story.

This story tops the NYT page. The war debate in the Senate was today! - but that coverage shrinks to this insider political process crap.

that is for sure.

no doubt about that

How very sad.

today.

Idiots.

did - Rove, Buch, & Cheney just to name a few. They are the original cut & run crowd & now they Lie & Die.

because the American people are no longer predisposed toward following the GOP's logic. If they continue down this road, with constant negative revelations coming from Iraq (marines were indicted for MURDER today, for Pete's sake!) they will implode by November.

are following).