11/8

I feel hopeful, for the first time in eight years. No need to be a jerk about it, the way the GOP was in '94--sweeping in and telling the Democrats to get lost. No need for that. The Democrats have been handed the keys--perhaps even in both houses--but only as the lesser of two evils. Now they've got to pony up something good, and take a hand in framing the debates for '08. They're not particularly good at framing debates. And "values" trumps "issues" every time. (The "values" card is a little war-torn these days--but it'll get rehabilitated. It always does.)

But whatever the Democracts do, Bush's imperial presidency is over. And that's reason enough to pop open a bottle of chianti tonight and breathe. Tomorrow's another day.