Reply #5: i agree but there's a problem ...

[welshTerrier2]

i think most Americans see the greatest problem facing the country right now as Iraq ... we are getting our asses handed to us and there's no hope, and no end, in sight ... problems with domestic issues, like Social Security, education, jobs and Supreme Court nominees are not seen as crises issues right now ... that's not to say these issues are not of concern to Americans ... but Iraq seems, at least to me, to be the front-burner issue right now ...

and that's where the Democrats may have a problem ... no one with any knowledge at all can think bush has handled Iraq well ... it's a total disaster ... bush will reduce troop strength leading up to the 2006 midterms ... he'll tell us all is well ... of course, right after the election, due to interference from Iran, we'll need to send more troops back over there and even launch airstrikes on Iran ... but what about the Democrats? their current position, aside from being dead wrong on Iraq, is much too nuanced to be politically effective ...

their essential theme is we need to stay in Iraq and fight for the exact same objectives as "the President" but we would be winning instead of losing ... how? first, we would build more alliances to bring in troops from other countries? second, and this is just not politically viable at a time bush is reducing the troop count, we would send more troops to "do the job right" ... Americans are not going to want to hear about a Vietnam-style broadening of the war ... they are already sick of the mess bush made over there ...

so, calling the midterms the "bush report card" is a great idea; but the Democrats' current position may not yield them higher grades ...