Schumer is right, Americans are fed up with every aspect of the war and how it's been politicized. Most Americans have figured out that the War in Iraq has made the terrorist threat worse. It's getting harder and harder for Republicans to exploit national security for political purposes. A majority of voters, including many conservatives, are against the Iraq War, torture, and illegal wiretapping, so voters now applaud the Democrats for not supporting these misguided GOP policies.

As usual, Senator Schumer offers us his wonderful sence of humor but no Democratic plan for the American people to consider. President Bush faces tough alternatives with no easy answers but he is not afraid to face these issues head on.

Sen. Santorum's comparison of the war in Iraq to the Lord of the Rings will go into rhetoric textbooks as one of the best examples of when NOT to draw an analogy.

So YAFer, what is Bushes plan? I would like to know it. How is 'staying the course' facing tough alternatives?

Just curious.

This is for YAfer.

Democrats deserve a chance now. The republicans have messed up big-time. We did not need any more "john wayne" tactics by Bush and congress. You are in denial just like congress and the administration. Such Arrogance in this world.

In Arabic, Iraq War is spelled Viet Nam.
I don't see any humor in this war that is based on a doucumented lie.
In English, Iraq War is spelled: Hell On Earth.
Adam.

President (to all the illiterates) Bush's plan in Iraq is VERY SIMPLE: All you Liberals and Move-On.org lovers, listen closely now. The President's plan (what a concept) IS TO W-I-N! Now don't go telling all your Liberal friends, as they will ask you to explain it to them--and of course you won't know how to explain.

All those not understanding this rationale are most certainly the 35% of the American populace known as lemmings. Most of you know what lemmings are I'm sure. They are led around by the ilk (aka likes) of Pelosi, Reid, Clinton and Clinton, Dean, Kennedy and Kerry, all not very intelligent (as a group nor individuals) but all are very capable lemming leaders.

Let me be somewhat politically incorrect (as far as the Left and Liberalism is concerned) as I can be. God! It's hard to explain win or lose, right or wrong, up or down, male or female, to some people and be nice about it. God bless them anyway.

To chasaragdy

Yes, Bush's goal is to "Win". Which is why he sub contracted outBin Ladin's capture, I suppose. Meanwhile, what could "Win" mean? To get control of the oil fields? That has been done. Exxon Mobile is getting about two and a half million barrels of oil out of Iraq per day. Does "Win" mean getting the Iraqis to stop shooting each other? Its been happening for hundreds of years and will continue for hundreds of years, regardless if we are in the line of fire or not. Bush does not want to withdraw because the Iraqis will throw all American corporations out of the oil fields. And who are Bush's biggest contributors? Thanks for reading.

Well, maybe you missed something, there, Chas.

Seems like almost the whole Republican establishment, at least those who are grounded in reality, have admitted that "Winning" is just not possible in Iraq, regardless of what Bush thinks in whatever little world he's inhabiting.

And, the military leaders, especially those at the levels closest to the action, admit the same thing.

Those of us who went through the Viet-Nam nightmare see more and more disturbing parallels, the most disturbing of which is a president who continues to deceive us, but more importantly, himself, about the whole issue.

Win? Not likely.

It pretty much boils down to a war we shouldn't have started, in a country that doesn't want us there, led by political leaders who don't have a clue where we are, how we got there or how to get out.

Don't wrtie the GOP off yet! Polls have been proven wrong before. The GOP may come back with both houses intact.

The disgusting part is Bush and the GOP have been using Iraq as a political weapon as Dems. Soldiers blood and their families agony be damned. Bush will be happy to continue the war as long as they can use it to win elections.

Iraq started because Rove wanted to use it to win elections and Cheney wanted to use it to dominate Arabs, build an Empire and enrich their oil friends. Soldiers are just pawns in this sad political tragedy. Soldiers are dying so that Haliburton and others can get richer. Soldiers are dying so that Bill Frist and John McCain can become presidents someday. How sad. and 40-45% of Americans don't really care.

>.he is not afraid to face these issues head on.

What is Bush's plan? Tell us please.

As usual, republican supporters are a calling for a democratic plan to handling our nation's problems (Iraq, Immigration, Terrorism), but keep forgetting to espouse exactly what plan the republican party has to offer on anything, besides citing tax cuts for the rich as a solution to maintaining a good economy.

Since we are now presenting a big target in Iraq --- the terrorists do not have to go far to kill Americans.
Staying the course is stupid and immoral policy to our young troops and to the innocent Iraqui people. It's time for the Bush team to answer to the American people in war tribunal in our new Congress come November.