McClatchy: Petraeus kicks war issue into 2008 politics

[babylonsister]

Petraeus kicks war issue into 2008 politics
By Steven Thomma | McClatchy Newspapers



WASHINGTON — Gen. David Petraeus may have accomplished the Bush administration's political goal when he appeared before Congress this week: buying more time for U.S. troops in Iraq.



Yet even if Petraeus succeeded in warding off the slim chance that Congress might vote this year to end the war, he just kicked the war into the 2008 election year. And that aggravates the challenges that both major political parties face in finding a way to give the American people what polls show that a majority wants: a way out.

"He was able to convince those watching that there has been some success," said Chris Borick, the director of the Institute of Public Opinion at Pennsylvania's Muhlenberg College. "He's asking for time. I don't know that he sold people on the long- term picture. But he did sell them somewhat on the short-term picture."

After asking 302 people to watch Petraeus' testimony, the college found that those who believe that the military is meeting its goals rose from 26 percent to 40 percent. And initial headlines emphasized his call to roll back President Bush's increase of 30,000 troops by next July.

"It energizes Republicans," independent pollster John Zogby said of Petraeus' presentation. Petraeus gave Republicans cover to support an unpopular war for at least a few more months, he said. "There is someone besides the president making the case, someone who has credentials. It becomes more than just George W. Bush's war."

The challenge for Republicans, Zogby said, is what to do next year.

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http://www.mcclatchydc.com/226/story/19627.html

[beachmom]

1. They only watched Petraeus's testimony report without Senate questions?

That's kind of significant. If these people polled only watched his report, then they wouldn't know the problems with it. If they watched him with the House only, well they weren't very effective. The Senate did a better job.