"The Democrats are far ahead of us..."

Leaning a little this way here, and back that way over there, members of Congress are shifting their comfort zones -- and perhaps their votes -- just a wee bit. Moderate Republicans, the Washington Post reports, "many of them facing the possibility of difficult reelection bids next year, are dreading the expected showdowns."

"We are at a very significant juncture," said Rep. Jim Ramstad (Minn.), a moderate who on Monday joined seven other Republicans in announcing that he will not seek reelection. "I'd use a metaphor, but it can't be printed -- something about something hitting the fan."

The votes about funding Iraq and children's healthcare are the most painful for Republicans.  Harry Reid says no more playing to Republicans on the Iraq issue.

Rep. Phil English (R-Pa.), who has been exploring bipartisan accommodations, especially on Iraq, complained yesterday that, for all their talk of bipartisanship, the "House Democratic leadership has not reached out to us at all."

And Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) said yesterday that he is abandoning efforts at compromise with Republicans over proposals to bring troops home, saying that the GOP has not responded to his plea.

Some Republicans are fed up with Bush.

Between efforts to push legislation requiring a change of mission in Iraq, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) is trying to stave off a veto of the S-CHIP bill; and she is fuming about Bush's newfound zeal for fiscal rectitude. "There is a marked contrast between this year threatening to veto all of these bills and the last few years," she said. "He's clearly trying to send a message. I think it's a belated message, and the choices are not ones I would have advised."

On Iraq, Republicans who once might have yielded to White House appeals for unity are finding such salesmanship far less persuasive.

"My tendency is to try and be supportive of the president," said Sen. George V. Voinovich (R-Ohio), who is considering voting for Webb's rest-time amendment, which he opposed in July. "But if I have looked at something and studied it and conclude that that's not the right course, then I'm going to do what I do."

Then, too, many Republican seats will open up in '08 -- meaning a possibly Democratic sweep of Congress and the White House. 

At a gloomy meeting of House Republicans yesterday, lawmakers hashed over the updated list of retirements while leaders again exhorted their rank-and-file to get out and raise money if they do not want to be in an even deeper hole in November 2008.

Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) said a meeting that once would have been depressing has become so commonplace that it is now boring.

"People are taking very seriously the notion that Democrats are far ahead of us in having top-tier candidates for the White House and are well-positioned to defend their own on Capitol Hill," LaHood said. "There are no illusions out here."