November 20, 2005
Session Exposes Political Risks Ahead for G.O.P.
By CARL HULSE
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 - It was a bitter and fitting final note for a discordant Congress.
The ugly debate in the House on Friday over the Iraq war served as an emotional send-off for a holiday recess, capturing perfectly the political tensions coursing through the House and Senate in light of President Bush's slumping popularity, serious party policy fights, spreading ethics investigations and the approach of crucial midterm elections in less than a year.
Capitol Hill was always certain to be swept up in brutal political gamesmanship as lawmakers headed into 2006 - the midpoint of this second presidential term and, perhaps, a chance for Democrats to cut into Republican majorities or even seize power in one chamber or the other.
The ferocity of the fight in the House over a measure to withdraw American troops from Iraq shows that the war may command the high ground in the coming electoral contest. And the course of events in Iraq - whether a new government takes hold, whether violence continues, whether American troops are still committed in large numbers and being killed by the scores each month - is likely to be of prime political consequence here.
But when lawmakers return next month they face other immediate challenges that also carry substantial political risks. Some are matters related to the war, like the continuing debate on the treatment of detainees in the campaign against global terrorism. Others are the kind of domestic pocketbook issues that Congress must deal with every year - including contentious tax and spending measures - but have been impossible to resolve this year, even with one party in control of both houses.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/20/politics/20cong.html?ei=5089&en=2d40231118580aa7&ex=1290142800&partner=rssyahoo&emc=rss&pagewanted=print
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