Republicans in Congress are reaching for life vests

January 21, 2007
Republicans in Congress are reaching for life vests

For the legislators of today, this problem is largely framed in terms of Bush's proposal to send
21,500 additional soldiers to Iraq. In the next few weeks, the House and the Senate will take up
resolutions opposing the "surge." Though these measures will be non-binding, they will amount to a
no-confidence test for the Bush presidency. Losing his own party's support on the war would be an
unprecedented repudiation, marking the end of Bush's ability to govern or lead. If you are a House
or Senate Republican, how do you decide whether to join the dissidents or stick with Bush?