0 = coldest
100 = warmest
       Gay Marriage    The Iraq War    Gap
2005
Oct	   30.5 	   37.7        7.2
Sep	   32.7 	   35.8        3.1
Jul	   33.9 	   39.5        5.6
Jun	   32.0 	   39.6        7.6
May	   32.1 	   39.5        7.4
Apr	   30.2 	   39.5        9.3
Mar	   34.1 	   44.3        10.2
Feb	   29.3 	   42.5        13.2
2004
Nov	   31.5 	   42.9        11.4
Oct	   32.4 	   43.3        10.9
Sep	   32.0 	   43.8        11.8 
Aug	   31.6 	   42.9        11.3
Jul	   31.4 	   41.6        10.2
Jun	   32.7 	   42.9        10.2
May	   31.6 	   43.1        11.5
Apr	   29.1 	   44.9        15.8
Mar	   29.6 	   47.7        18.1
Feb	   -NA- 	   47.2        -NA-
Jan	   -NA- 	   47.5        -NA-

While October saw the gap between the two rise somewhat, the long-term trend is undeniable: the Iraq war is gradually becoming as unpopular as gay marriage. From March of 2004 to September of 2005, the gap between the two dropped by 15 points, almost to the point where it no longer existed. In March of 2004, the Iraq war was more popular than Dick Cheney, free trade agreements, and big corporations. Now, its only rival for unpopularity is gay marriage (and the Republican gay marriage of 2006 and/or 2008, immigration, which stands at 39.8).

Here is what perhaps amazes me the most about these numbers. In 2004, most Democrats were too gutless / homophobic to stand up for equal marriage rights for gay Americans. I am certain the the unpopularity of gay marriage nationwide played a role in this. Now, in 2005, most high-prfile Democrats are still too gutless to stand up against something that will soon be just as unpopular: the Iraq war. Thus, it would seem that the Democratic leadership has finally grown a spine, but it has done so by taking up a position opposed not only by the majority of the country, but also by the vast majority of its members. In other words, the Democratic leadership has finally decided to take an unpopular stand, and that stand pits them against them own members and on the same side as the Repbulican leadership. Way to choose your moments.

One year from now, the Iraq war will probably be less popular than gay marriage, and the Republican Noise Machine will probably be whipping the country into an anti-immigration fervor in the same way they tried to whip up a homophobic fervor in 2004. Withdrawal could serve as an all-purpose, all-important counter to anything Republicans throw up during the midterms, including immigration, if the leadership just has the courage to come out in favor of it. And it really is a no-brainer policy wise as well. Can anyone seriously beleive that if we haven't achieved whatever our mission is in Iraq in another year, that further prolonging the occupation will help achieve it? If the first four years of war didn't accomplish anything, the next several won't accomplish anything either.