There is a certain contingent hoping for a matchup next November in the 8th Congressional District between incumbent Democrat Melissa Bean of Barrington and GOP hopeful Kirk Morris of Gurnee. That's because Morris supports the Bush strategy in Iraq and Bean backs a phased redeployment plan.
Some consider this matchup the perfect referendum on the war in Iraq. Morris the hawk, contending the troop "surge" is working because suicide bombings, IED explosions, coaltiion and civilian deaths and injuries are down. Others note that the Democratic takeover of Congress last year was the referendum on where Americans wanted the course of Iraq to go. It should be noted Morris' son, a Marine, died in Iraq.
Of course, both face primary challenges. Bean from Randi Scheurer of Lindenhurst; Morris in a three-way Republican race with Long Grove businessman Steve Greenberg of Long Grove and fellow Gurnee resident Ken Arnold who lost out in last year's crowded GOP primary.
Bean just returned from Iraq and wants U.S. forces to switch from policing sectarian violence to fighting terrorism and training Iraqi forces so Iraqis can provide for their own security. Morris wants the U.S. to compete the mission spelled out by President Bush.
We'll see if voters react to Morris' pitch during the primary, for it looks like the American people and the military are getting might tired of losing men and money in Iraq.
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