War Mom vs. Peace Mom

This article (subscription required) says: "Half of U.S. adults now believe insurgents are getting the upper hand in Iraq, a recent Harris poll finds, compared with 41% who felt that way in a June 2005 survey."

Richard Wolffe and Holly Bailey write in Newsweek.com: "For a White House that professes to not care about polls, Bush's advisers are concerned, which is why the public will see more of the president than usual during the final weeks of his month-long Texas sojourn. There will be slight tweaks in Bush's language about the war, administration officials say, including a more somber message on the enemy the U.S. faces."

Sheehan Returns to Crawford

Julie Mason writes in the Houston Chronicle: "With singing and tears, protest mom Cindy Sheehan returned to her vigil near President Bush's ranch Wednesday, less than a week after leaving to care for her ailing mother. . . .

"Asked later how it felt to be back at 'Camp Casey,' Sheehan gave two thumbs up. Her supporters, who have dwindled significantly in numbers during her absence, are hoping that Sheehan's return will rejuvenate their anti-war effort by bringing more attention back to Crawford."

Joyce Howard Price writes in the Washington Times: "Military families disturbed by a sea of crosses erected by anti-war protesters near President Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas, have removed crosses bearing the names of their fallen children and transferred them to another site to show support for American troops in Iraq."

Republican Support Solid

John Harwood writes in the Wall Street Journal that Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska's recent "intraparty blast at President Bush's policy . . . raised the question of whether the lame-duck president's bulwark of Republican support is about to crumble over the Iraq war's mounting toll.

"The answer: not likely. National security remains a potent unifying issue for Mr. Bush's political coalition, he retains overwhelming personal popularity among Republicans, and the party's leading candidate to succeed him strongly backs the nation's continued presence in Iraq.

" 'We can't afford to lose,' says Sen. John McCain of Arizona, a maverick on other issues, but a Bush ally on Iraq. While 'there's nervousness' among Republicans, he says 'I do not see any significant erosion or inclination to jump ship.' "

Plame Watch

Tom Hamburger and Sonni Efron have a big story in the Los Angeles Times today bringing readers up to speed on the Valerie Plame CIA leak case.

"Beyond the whodunit, the affair raises questions about the credibility of the Bush White House, the tactics it employs against political opponents and the justification it used for going to war.

"What motivated President Bush's political strategist, Karl Rove; Vice President Cheney's top aide, I. Lewis 'Scooter' Libby; and others to counter Wilson so aggressively? How did their roles remain secret until after the president was reelected? Have they fully cooperated with the investigation?

"The answers remain elusive."