http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-speech110.artjan10,0,4898131.story?coll=hc-headlines-home<snip>
"The one thing that will force the president to change policy is when Republican senators walk away from him," said Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joseph R. Biden Jr., D-Del. At least nine Republicans have questioned Bush's troop increase, though many made it clear Tuesday they were not necessarily prepared to vote against it. Some Democrats agreed.
"It's my opinion vs. his, but he's the president," said Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb.
The other effort to sway public opinion will involve congressional committees, which plan to quiz top administration officials this week.
In the House, the Armed Services panel will hear from Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Peter Pace Thursday. Democratic Rep. Joseph D. Courtney, Connecticut's 2nd District freshman, saw the hearing as an opportunity to push public opinion the Democrats' way.