Reply #12: I think the longer all Republicans remain loyal to Bush...

[Jade Fox]

the more likely it is to hurt the party in 2006 elections.

The smart thing for any Republican facing re-election in 2006 to do would be to immediately begin publicly distancing themselves from Bush. But that is likely easier said than done. I'm fairly uninformed about campaign financing, but I assume all Republicans (and Democrats too) are to some degree financially dependent on the Party for re-election funds. It is significant that the Repubs who have defied Bush are all very established (like Arlen Specter), and thus able to withstand Party censure, both financial and ideological.