It may be that the Republican congressmen are just terrified of organized blocs of liberal and "moderate" voters coming out to defeat them in 2006. If so, they are doing exactly what the Democrats want them to do, and they will lose with this kind of cowardice.
Better to keep the conservatives on your side if you want to remain a Republican. If they are so afraid of liberal block voters, maybe they should just switch their membership.
Just what makes them think Americans wish socialism, wish for America to be less safe, wish for America to sell off its secrets to the highest bidder?
Maybe we need term limits for senators. Apparently living in Washington is very detrimental to the moral fiber of our representatives. Power is very corrupting - especially for senators in the "club environment".