BTW were you a Republican leaner before your son was involved in Iraq? It just sounds as though you may have been. As for me, I think true leadership among Democrats would have given a number of Republicans the "out" they longed for. I do believe many found this war gut-wrenchingly sickening and would have gone with a well-thought-out escape option (such as the Baker-Hamilton Commission findings) had there been the stomach to make it happen. Democrats let your son down, I believe thus no one gets held harmless in my view. But it's about the person, IMO, not the party, at this point. Let us take a moment of silence together.