How much longer the Democrats can continue to call these largely symbolic votes on Iraq war funding?  Sure, they’re futile because President Bush will veto each one of them, but when they start failing in the way the vote failed today, with 19 Democrats voting with the Republicans, it begins to look like a misguided strategy.   

The Democrats are right to be pushing for change.  The political tide has turned against Bush.  Polls in heavily Republican districts, including northwest Arkansas, show that more than 50% of residents believe that the war in Iraq is  a mistake.  Absent a drastic change, the 2008 election is setting up to be an even bigger landslide than the 2006 mid-terms.  Even cozy Republicans will have to campaign for their seats.  The entire map should be in play for the DCCC in 08.

Nevertheless, the current political landscape may not look so rosy if the Democrats don’t start offering more than symbolic votes as a solution.