Let's see. The MSM points to the WOT as a failure, all republican's fault. The MSM points to the 'poor economy' as a failure, all republican's fault. The MSM points to the USA hating world (except for illegals, who love us) as a failure, all republican's fault. The MSM points to illegals here as a failure, all republican's fault. The MSM points to the denial of miraculous cures from fetal stem cells as a failure, all republican's fault. The MSM points to the evil Christian fundamentalists takeover of the country as a failure, all republican's fault. The MSM points to heterosexual marriage as a failure, all republican's fault. The MSM points to No Child Left Behind as a failure, all republican's fault. The MSM points to Fox News Channel as a failure, all republican's fault. The MSM points to the decline in viewers/readers of news media as a failure, all republican's fault. I'm thinking the MSM had something to do with this.

DSG

A bit of an aside here, has anyone noticed those ads (Citgo) offering fuel for home heating at 40% off from the wonderful peoples of Venezeula? Is this Chavez attempting to look good? Anyone have any comments on this?

DSG

One way the Democrats managed to gain congressional power was not revealing what they really intended to do.

Charlie Rangel is back calling for reinstatement of the draft. On “Face the Nation” today Rangel said, "If we're going to challenge Iran and challenge North Korea and then, as some people have asked, to send more troops to Iraq, we can't do that without a draft." He also declared, "I don't see how anyone can support the war and not support the draft. I think to do so is hypocritical." He said he would introduce legislation to start the draft anew in January 2007. (Hypocrite Charlie also introduce draft legislation in January 2003 just before the Iraq invasion then voted against his own legislation.)

How many Democrats might not have voted the way they did if they thought bringing back the draft was a goal of the Democrats? The Democrats lost a powerful political tool when they could no longer use the draft as a tool for political advantage. Charlie wants it back. He even wants to scare the public about Iran and N. Korea too.

How many times did we have to listen to the democrats tell us that President Bush wanted to institute the draft if he got re-elected in 2004? Now, on Face the Nation, Charlie Rangel announces he is going to submit legislation to institute the draft.

Please make sure your train of thought carries freight.

"How have Democrats managed to gain congressional power in states that reliably vote Republican in presidential elections?"

The proverbial double-edged sword - The US mainland hasn't been attacked again since 911.

I keep seeing Bush's name popping up on this thread, so my response to the above question will center around W as well.  Obviously most have forgotten how they felt about W upon hearing the news on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001.   Allow me to assist; ''Thank God Bush is our President.''  Fast forward 5 years later and that sentiment has all but dissappeared.  This sentiment would be understandable if America had endured even just one more 911 since the last and felt as though Bush had let America down, but that's not the case. 

Which takes us back to the double-edged sword.  It's a blessing and indication of the competence of this Administration coupled with the seriousness which this Administration takes the Islamic/terrorist threat that we haven't been hit again in the US.  Flip that argument over and the Isamic/terrorist threat becomes a less pressing issue on the voters mind just because we haven't been hit again in five years.  If the terrorists want to kill us - big problem. If the terrorists want to kill Iraqis - no problem.  What seems to be missing from this equasion is that the terrorists haven't lost their desire to kill us anymore than they have lost their desire to kill Iraqis, Afghanis or any other group that gets in their way.  However thanks (or as pertains to this thread thanklessly)  to W, they have lost their capability......so far.  So as more and more uneventful days pass by America has become less and less interested in the fight.  It is not so much a cut and run point of view as one of what is the point?  The point has been lost in time. 

None the less the threat is still present, it just hasn't reared it's ugly head in five years.  So, America would like to "move on".   But this President will not, nor should he.  A person of lesser character would.  Most of us would like to be liked by everybody.  But not THIS President.  This President places getting the job done above winning over world (mostly Muslim) opinion poll.  But that is what the political process has become.  So while most of America wants to "move on" from this annoying war on terror thingy, daily motivated by the estab media that hammers this or that must be done by the President for whatever fashionable reason, the President's character which drives his commitment to follow through in his position as Commander in Chief will not allow him.  This peculiar predicament for Bush has somehow been translated into Bush being a failure rather than this being a failure of the terrorists or as a failure of the American will.

Certainly there are other factors why historically Republican-held districts voted the way they did.  With that in mind, this observer is reluctant to focus so much of the attention at Bush but W seems to be the favorite culprit in this thread.

Based on this commentor's gratitude for having a President that is willing to sacrifice his own popularity to pursue this mortal enemy of America and the rest of the developed world I am compelled to defend this great man George W Bush.  Particularly in light of the fact that after almost 35 years of the world effectively doing nothing to restrain the terrorist threat, which in turn emboldened this enemy, got us to the point we are today.  George Bush did not seek this fight.  This fight was pretty much avoided untill finally passed down the line to him.  I am not basing my opinion of W based on his level of mastering the english language or any other shallow concept but just for the same reasons everyone else on 911 without exception did.  They felt like America once again had an Executive Branch of Government that had committed as the first order of the day to protect them and their families. An Administration that would not only defend Americans but put an end to this terrorism nonsense once and for all.

But five years later that appears not to be.  It seems America, at least for the time being, has decided terrorists should have the same rights as you and I. America has made it clear that it is OK for some grandparents to eavesdrop on a private phone call between Newt and a colleague discussing political strategy but it is just wrong to listen to OBL give the day and time of the next American target to some Islmamic sleeper cell.  America is willing to call in the Calvary before the job is done.

It is not Bush that has wavered and become impatient.  It is an American public that being far-removed from the mahem witnessed 5 long years ago that has wavered and become impatient.  Bush continuosly cautioned America of this possibility from the very start.  It seems it was to no avail.  America preferred to listen to smooth talking pundits with a political ax to grind and Democrat candidates with a plan that only consisted of telling America how bad Bush is for America.

Still, this commentor is grateful that we have a President that would put his convictions of protecting me and my family above his personal power.  For that he has my unyielding support and gratitude....even if he doesn't pronounce words exactly like I do.  I only wish the President had had a Congress of individuals with like-minded resolve on both sides of the aisle, then I truly believe this President could have gotten a lot more conservative legislation passed and the election results could have turned out differently.  Even if that were the case I woud have still been somewhat skeptical the elections would have turned out differently having observed the anti-Bush shock and awe delivered these last few years by the estab media.  A different electoral result would have demanded an electorate with like-minded resolve as this Administration as well.

Possibly when a future President with the golden tongue, the perfect hair, supported by a door-to-door salesman Type A personality capable of selling America their latest line of crap turns his/her back on the terrorist threat and America is hit again America will join me in realizing just how fortunate America is/was to have/had a man with the character and fortitude of George W Bush during these monumental times of World-impacting cultural change.