It appears that one way to get this country out of Iraq would be to have an old-fashioned election. In 2006, this helped place the democrats in the majority, but (so far) they have failed to end the war.

Help is on the way…

Recently Senator Lugar (Indiana) and Voinovich (Ohio) made statements saying the surge is not working. Although they are not up in 2008, they are moderate Republicans. I believe the democrats will start getting more help from Republicans in the senate, especially those who are up for re-election in 2008.

For most politicians, nothing changes your mind on issues, than the chance of losing the power of being a senator. Look for many of these Republican senators up in 2008 to change their views of the war in Iraq and distance themselves from Bush. When Majority Leader Harry Reid calls for more votes next month about Iraq, you’ll see more Republicans side with him and it’s not because Reid is a great communicator, but mostly because of the 2008 elections.

This could create a problem for the democrats, because ending the war was their idea. They may win the battle (getting the USA out of Iraq) but lose the war (getting credit for it in the public’s eye) if some Republicans stop backing Bush and call for a pull-out of Iraq.

Here are the Republican Senators up for re-election in 2008:

AL – Jeff Sessions
AK – Ted Stevens
CO – Wayne Allard (not running)
GA – Saxby Chambliss
ID – Larry Craig
KS – Pat Roberts
KY – Mitch McConnell
ME – Susan Collins
MN – Norm Coleman
MS – Thad Cochran
NE – Chuck Hagel
NH – John Sununu
NM – Pete Domenici
NC – Elizabeth Dole
OK – Jim Inhofe
OR – Gordon Smith
SC – Lindsey Graham
TN – Lamar Alexander
TX – John Cornyn
VA – John Warner
WY – Mike Enzi

If someone like John Warner announces that he feels the surge is not working and we need to get out, he might be the key to ending the war. It would create a small tidal wave of Republicans going against Bush. There would be 5-10 (maybe more) who would follow him. Any Republican, who feels he/she is trouble with their re-election, will probably jump ship.

After all, in Washington, it’s about winning elections, right?