MI GOP support for Dear leader weakens

Detroit Free Press - www.freep.com - Wary GOP lawmakers bail on Bush Wary GOP lawmakers bail on Bush Michigan delegation largely greets his Iraq war plan with skepticism, silence January 25, 2007 BY KATHLEEN GRAY FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER At least three GOP lawmakers from Michigan who have supported President George W. Bush's Iraq policies have joined a growing number of Republicans distancing themselves from him. U.S. Rep. Candice Miller, who cochaired Bush's re-election campaign in Michigan in 2004, and U.S. Reps. Joe Knollenberg of Bloomfield Township and Pete Hoekstra of Holland -- strong supporters of the war when it began in 2003 -- all have made statements this week saying they are dismayed by the lack of progress in Iraq. Michigan's six other U.S. House Republicans were either silent on Iraq after Bush's State of the Union speech Tuesday or more supportive of him. As recently as last year, Miller of Harrison Township was a reliable supporter of Bush's Iraq policy on the House Armed Services Committee. But no longer. "I remain extremely hesitant to embrace his plans out of concern that the Iraqis will not be able to live up to their commitments," she said in a statement after the speech. Miller is married to retired Air Force Col. Don Miller, a Macomb County Circuit judge. Knollenberg issued this statement: "My patience with the war is growing thin. We need to see real progress in Iraq soon." Hoekstra added, "President Bush has removed his former leadership for the war and hired a new secretary of defense, a new ambassador to Iraq and a new general in Baghdad. It hopefully marks a willingness to rethink some of the strategies and tactics advocated by the former team that clearly have not worked." In the wake of Bush's speech, it became clearer Wednesday that many Republicans were bolting. Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, a potential 2008 presidential candidate, joined Democrats in passing a resolution saying Bush's strategy to deploy 21,500 more U.S. troops to Iraq is not in the nation's interest. Two other influential Republican senators -- John Warner of Virginia and Richard Lugar of Indiana -- also have said this week that they oppose the increase in troops. Analysts said Wednesday that the defections are not surprising. "He's gone to the well one too many times, saying 'Trust me, this has the best chance of working,' " said John Geer, a political science professor and presidential scholar at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. "Unfortunately, there's a history of things not working as well as he's indicated." As a result, Republicans are more willing to defy their commander in chief, especially one who has such low approval ratings and who can't run for re-election again, Geer added. "Three years ago, the Republicans were carving out a place for Bush on Mt. Rushmore," he said. "But they've put the chisels away." A lame-duck president is an easy target, added Craig Ruff of the Lansing-based Political Sector Consultants. "There is a fresh scent of blood, and the prey and predators don't waste any time in politics," he said. "As soon as they sniff a wound, they run for cover. Politicians have survival instincts." Republicans have good reason to hone their survival skills. A growing frustration with the war led to voters giving Democrats majorities in the House and Senate in November's elections. Knollenberg had his closest race since first running for Congress in 1992, barely beating Democrat Nancy Skinner, who pounded an antiwar message. But it's the climate in Iraq, not the political environment back home, that is leading the Republican renegades away from Bush, Capitol Hill staffers said. "He wants the Iraqi government to step up and take over security of their own country. That's the impetus behind our change in tone," said Trent Wisecup, chief of staff for Knollenberg. Other Republican House members from Michigan are more supportive of Bush. U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, a first-term congressman from Tipton, said Congress can't afford to back away from Iraq. "The war on terrorism is the calling of our time," he said. U.S. Rep. David Camp of Midland said after the speech that progress in Iraq needs to come quickly, but added, "This is a war we cannot walk away from." Wednesday, his office was more cautious. "This is not an open-ended commitment. There needs to be measurable progress in a very short time frame," said Camp spokesman Sage Eastman. Could the change in tone translate into a transparent and expedient political flip-flop? It all depends on what happens on the ground in Iraq, Ruff said. "If putting 21,000 more troops stabilizes the situation, maybe the John McCains of the world will actually look like the heroes and the people who say 'Let's pull out as fast as we can' will look like villains," he said. "But the voters may wreak vengeance on both