Hoping to Keep the Fight Alive

She compared the idea to a proposal by the Ways and Means committee chairman, Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.), to reinstate the draft.

"If there were real skin in the game, I think even more so with the draft, then this war will be over," Schakowsky said. "That's what David Obey said, too -- if you don't like the tax, end the war. It's not going to pass. We're not for taxing ordinary people for more money, necessarily. But I support the thrust of that -- that we've got to understand the cost."

She pointed to the Washington Post-ABC News poll released last week showing that Americans overwhelmingly oppose fully funding Bush's new $190 billion war request. "I've said this before: The American people, I think, are just done with this war," she said.

At the same time, the poll found no consensus about the pace of a withdrawal from Iraq. Fifty-two percent of those surveyed think Bush's plan for removing some troops by next summer is either the right speed for withdrawal or too hasty. Schakowsky conceded that Democrats may have some work to do to convince voters that the United States can depart Iraq safely and without leaving chaos behind.

"We need to assure the American people that this really can be done," she said. "I think right now, they don't know what to make of it." Democrats must "create a different vision, because right now, who do they turn to? They look to [Army Gen. David H.] Petraeus."

And so the House must keep legislating. "I want to see the Democrats in the House put up the fight," Schakowsky said. To an activist such as her, it's a win-win-win scenario.

"We make it clear to all the war opponents that we're really fighting, we separate ourselves from the Republicans who are stopping this, and we help ourselves win the fight. The fight itself energizes and empowers people to engage. When you see a fight going on, you can push it along."