Not just Iraq, but as you pointed out, fear of fighting the media. Republicans were afraid of being brandished as Nazis like they always are. Problem is, as far as liberals are concerned, Lieberman could switch to the GOP and become president, and George Soros would call even HIM a Nazi. The liberals in the media will never be our friends. Ronald Reagan's model was the best: You defeat the liberal media by rendering them irrelevant, by taking your ideas straight to the people.
Your're so right. The only one with guts enough to take on the liberal media is Lynne Cheney.
I'll vote for her in 08