Congressional session exposes risks for GOP

[Lasher]

WASHINGTON -- It was a bitter and fitting final note for a discordant Congress.
The ugly debate in the House on Friday over the Iraq war served as an emotional send-off for a holiday recess, capturing perfectly the political tensions coursing through the House and Senate in light of President Bush's slumping popularity, serious party policy fights, spreading ethics investigations and the approach of crucial midterm elections in less than a year.

<snip>

Not just the war, but a whole series of events have turned what would have been a tough season for the Bush administration and the Republican majority into an extremely daunting one, sowing dissent among the majority's rank-and-file and providing opportunities for Democrats, who continue to have problems of their own.
Among developments that have knocked Republicans badly off course:

• The botched response to Hurricane Katrina.

• Party conflict over paying for the storm.

• The indictment of Rep. Tom DeLay.

• Soaring fuel costs.

• A failed Supreme Court nomination.

• Federal charges against a vice presidential aide in a case related to prewar intelligence.

• Growing public unease about the war and its death toll.

• Off-year election victories by Democrats.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051120/NEWS06/511200505/1012/NEWS06