It appears that’s what most people are asking about U.S. Senator Max Baucus’ recent trip to Iraq. At least that is what some of the “Talk Back!” members of the Billings Gazette’s website are saying. Many bloggers are asking “why” too. Many other folks are asking democrats, like Max Baucus, why the USA is still in the war. Maybe we’re still in the war, because the democrats can get more money from the anti-war folks leading up to the 2008 elections. Maybe the Democrats can say something like, “This time we really mean we’ll end the war, so donate today.”

Senators take trips. That’s a fact. They take more trips than Representatives. That’s another fact. They also take ridiculous trips for political purposes and that, sadly, is a fact, too.

Senators face re-election every six years. Voters are well-known for having short memories. The last two years of a senator’s term are the most important for that reason.

You’ve read here many times my opinion about elected people always having their eye on winning the next election. That is their bottom line. So if you are a senator who has never been to Iraq when most of your colleagues have, this trip must be placed on your “to do” list and near the top. Then, you can say to the voters, “I’ve personally been to Iraq and I’ve seen first-hand the great work our military personnel are doing.” Or you can say, “I’ve personally met with President Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and told them that their government needed to do more.”

Sadly, that’s the way it works in the political world today.

So Montana’s senior Senator, Max Baucus, took his first trip to Iraq this last weekend and received some press coverage from it. As expected, the photos are up on Senator Max Baucus’ official U.S. Senate website from his first trip to Iraq. The Montana media has bought into the whole thing and did not ask a tough question of the Senator. Life is good for Max. He can cross off the trip to Iraq from his “to do” list for re-election.

I heard from a friend, who understands this stuff more than I, that when an elected official posts photos on his official website, they can then have their campaign team capture (use) the photos for campaign purposes. That was a few years ago, but I wonder if it’s true today. We’ll see in a few months, I guess.

After all the miles and the taxpayer money, Max reported that the Iraqi government does not have its act together and needs a bigger nudge from the USA. I think the Petraeus report said the same thing which would have saved some money by just reading it…but that’s just me.

Senator Baucus did meet with some Montanans who are serving our country in Iraq. I am sure they were pleased.