Senate Republicans Run for Cover

The most disingenuous of votes were those cast by the four endangered Republicans in favor of the Democratic proposal to limit the time our soldiers have to spend in Iraq.

The bill, which would have limited their service to the same length of time they have been based in the U.S., was defeated, falling four votes short of cloture.

Of the six Republicans who broke ranks, four are facing tough reelection fights. Their opportunistic votes are designed to clip the wings of their Democratic challengers in the 2008 elections. Had Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Norm Coleman (R-Minn.), John Sununu (R-N.H.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) not faced daunting reelection challenges, who knows how they would have voted?