Tribunal Dispute Could Ruin GOP Strategy

"People aren't paying attention to the economy. We've given up on immigration. We need to send people home with some significant accomplishments, and we have no other choice," LaHood said. "We have no other issue."

But misgivings over the agenda set out by the president and GOP leaders are growing. Rep. Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) said he told Bush on Thursday that he should heed the military's top uniformed lawyers, who have opposed some provisions of the president's tribunal plan. Rep. Charles Bass (R-N.H.), one of several moderate Northeasterners in tough reelection campaigns, said he has no problem with Bush's bills. He is likely to vote against them.

The problem, Lungren said, is that the complexity of the tribunal and wiretapping issues do not lend themselves to the quick action Bush wants.

"This is a big deal to drop in our laps," he added. "There is some discomfort with the time period we've been given."

Then there's McCain, a decorated Vietnam War veteran who spent years as a captive of the North Vietnamese.

"If Americans know anything about John McCain, it's the guy was tortured. People listen to him on this issue," said John J. Pitney Jr., a professor of politics at Claremont McKenna College who studies House Republicans.

Last week, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) did his best to ignore McCain's position on the tribunals and to blame Democrats for the stalemate. But Democrats are using McCain and his allies as a shield.

"Instead of picking fights with Colin Powell, John McCain and other military experts, President Bush should change course," Senate Minority Leader Harry M. Reid (Nev.) said Friday.

Fabrizio and other analysts said that argument is smart politics.

"It appears John McCain has given Democrats body armor against Republican attacks," Pitney said.

Moreover, the showdown between Bush and McCain is grabbing the spotlight from Republican initiatives that were supposed to undergird their case that they are the stronger party on national and homeland security. Just Thursday, the House passed legislation that would authorize the construction of 700 miles of double-layered fencing on the U.S.-Mexico border, while the Senate approved a long-promised port security bill. Both actions were buried by media coverage of the tribunal battle.

And the intraparty fights over tribunals and wiretapping are likely to dominate Congress until the lawmakers adjourn for their campaigns at month's end. That could swamp any uptick that Bush and the GOP enjoyed before the fights broke out.

"Even the best start with a bad finish doesn't help," Fabrizio said.