Chris Shays seems to be following the GOP blueprint for messaging on Iraq — he’s all for ending the war when it’s election time, but votes for continuing it when it’s not. And rationalizing the two positions? Well that takes some serious contortions:

Shays, R-Conn., said he resents Democratic claims that he flip-flopped on his position from last year. The Democrats’ proposals to withdraw the military in April or fall 2008 are “partisan timelines,” Shays said.

“I support having a timeline to get out of Iraq,” Shays said during a news conference at the Norwalk Inn. “What I’m hearing as criticism is because I voted against Democratic motions — then I’m against timelines. Let’s be very clear. I am against partisan Democratic timelines.”

Oh-kay. I’m sure that makes sense in somebody’s world. No doubt we’ll be seeing a lot of those “non-partisan Republican timelines” any time now.

Meanwhile, Jim Himes continues apace — smashing Shays’ fundraising efforts in both total money raised and in number of donors. Chris Van Hollen was in CT helping Jim out just recently (and FWIW, it’s nice to be on the same side of a race with the DCCC.) Anyway, we’ve raised $2,163 for Jim on Blue America from 53 donors. We’d love to get that up to 100 — the fact that Himes had over 500 donors last quarter to Shays’ 107 sends a signal that his support is broad based.

Shays is a dinosaur who needs to go. As many have said, we need 41 House seats to end the Blue Dog stranglehold on the House. If you’ve got $5 to spare please stop by Blue America and drop it in the hat for Jim Himes, one of the best chances we’ve got to turn a pro-war seat into an anti-war one.

(video thanks to CTBob)

Update: Okay we’re moving the goal posts. I’m at the fabulous Crooks and Liars batcave and John Amato wants more donoros from Blue America than Shays had in the entire first quarter, so that means we need 108 donors. I think that’s a very good idea.