[Howlin]

They would involve only incumbent Democratic senators, some of whom are up for re-election, but not Democratic Senate challengers, he said

That's a curiously worded statement, isn't it?

And here they are:

Daniel Akaka (HI)
Jeff Bingaman (NM)
Robert Byrd (WV)
Maria Cantwell (WA)
Tom Carper (DE)
Hillary Rodham Clinton (NY)
Kent Conrad (ND)
Dianne Feinstein (CA)
Edward Kennedy (MA)
Herb Kohl (WI)
Joe Lieberman (CT)
Robert Menendez (NJ)
Ben Nelson (NE)
Bill Nelson (FL)
Debbie Stabenow (MI)

[Ludicrous]

Perhaps they don't realize that Bush is not running for a seat in the Senate?

I think this would be a great opportunity for the Republican challengers to slaughter the incumbent Dems for their records on any number of Domestic issues while they flail about trying to attack Bush on National Security.

[oldbill]

They pick these sitting Senators because they think that their status will get them onto a military base. For official business, yes, but not for campaigning.

Since so few of these political hacks ever served in the military, they are clueless on military protocols. They think they can just drive up and set up their cameras for the photo op.