[harmodius]

The Dems consider Iraq to be their best issue against Republicans in the ‘08 elections. Despite all the bluster in recent months, the very last thing the Dems actually want is our soldiers to come home. If that happened, their best issue goes up in smoke. The Dems want to be seen trying to bring the troops home, but being blocked by Bush and the Republicans. That way they can say, “see, we tried, but without more seats in Congress and the Oval Office itself, there’s nothing we can do.” This will be their campaign all next year. And unless Iraq looks a hell of a lot better than it does now (and I doubt it), their plan will work like a charm. Tack on to that the Bush/GOP sellout on immigration and 2008 is looking pretty bleak for Repubicans.

[Sleeping Beauty]

The Dems consider Iraq to be their best issue against Republicans in the ‘08 elections. Despite all the bluster in recent months, the very last thing the Dems actually want is our soldiers to come home. If that happened, their best issue goes up in smoke. The Dems want to be seen trying to bring the troops home, but being blocked by Bush and the Republicans. That way they can say, “see, we tried, but without more seats in Congress and the Oval Office itself, there’s nothing we can do.” This will be their campaign all next year. And unless Iraq looks a hell of a lot better than it does now (and I doubt it), their plan will work like a charm. Tack on to that the Bush/GOP sellout on immigration and 2008 is looking pretty bleak for Repubicans.

Brilliant. You got it.

The only way to trump the Dims is to win this war before 2008, now that we have the money.

[deebee1]

Actually, i think it’s a bit more cynical than that. The Dems don’t want to actually impact anything in Iraq. That would make them responsible for the results. Granted, the majority of Americans appear to want the war over. However, let’s say them Dems cut off funding, Bush brings the troops back home, and a massive civil war breaks out in Iraq drawing in Turkey, Syria, Iran, etc. (the likely result of removing troops now) Hundreds of thousands dead, massive ethnic cleansing, not to mention possible terrorist strikes on the U.S. If that occurs, what will the American public think of the Dems move to pull the troops out? They will likely view them as incompetent and that will impact the results of the 2008 election.

The Dems simply want to be seen as opposing an unpopular war, they don’t really want to take responsibility for the alternative.