We are taking notes, taking names

And promising not to forget.

Congressional votes on Iraq have long political shelf lives.

Just ask the Democrats who supported the war authorization more than four years ago and have been dogged by their decisions ever since. It’s a good lesson for those deciding how to proceed this week on a series of Iraq resolutions, and not just Democrats or those with presidential ambitions.

Next year, 21 Republican senators face re-election, and their political futures could be deeply entwined with the Iraq debate.