Inquiring bloggers want to know: how is "we love war" a winning Republican theme?

Josh Marshall wants to know:

I'm a bit confused. I'm hearing a lot of reports about Republicans chanting about staying in Iraq forever, the danger of ever withdrawing our troops. There's Cheney. There's Frist. I can't say I've done a systematic scan of all media. I'm just saying what I've happened across during a day of work. And I'm not seeing any Dems. Not hearing any clear message.

What Republicans want is More of the Same.

That's the motto. More of the Same.

Duncan "Atrios" Black wants to know:

Bush is on the record is stating that there is no chance that the war will be over before he leaves office.

That's just under three years from now.

That means the war will go on for almost twice as long as it already has.

Why do Republicans want this?

I want to know, too:

Maybe the Republicans are on to something. Maybe "we stand for staying the course in the Iraq War forever and ever" is a sure-fire winning strategy for the GOP this November. They sure seem to be signing on for it: G.O.P. Decides to Embrace War as Issue. (I like the headline.)

Just on the surface of things, it looks like a lemming stampede to me, given how unpopular the war has become.

It's not just Bush, either.  That legendary straight-talker, the media darling and man-dude-love object Maverick McCain, is saying it, too:

None of this is to say that success in Iraq will be quick or easy. On the contrary, this war is long, and it’s hard and it’s tough. We will see significant achievements, like the killing of Zarqawi and the completion of the Iraqi cabinet. But we will see steps backward as well, like the continuing violence in Baghdad and the insurgency in Ramadi. No one should have any illusions about the costs of this conflict, as it has been waged thus far or as it will be waged as we move ahead. But neither should anyone have illusions about the role of Iraq in the war on terror today. It has become a central battleground in our fight against those who wish us grave harm, and we cannot wish away this fundamental truth. We cannot fall prey to wishful thinking that we can put the costs and the difficulties and the frustrations aside by ignoring our challenges and responsibilities.

(Sigh...)  It's not like the good old days of the Cakewalk in Iraq, is it?