For every woman like Teensy who dares us to say anything that might drive her away from the Democratic Party (and I suspect that this is not posturing on her part - correct, Teensy?), there will be a host more of formerly Democratic women "crossing over" or sitting out. I suspect the majority of them are white, educated, upper middle class, and were ready to break away sooner or later.

And why? That one is a lot harder to substantiate. Many of these folks backed Bill Clinton, who was even younger running for the Presidency, governor of a pretty small-time state (other than corporate HQ of WM - something I have always wondered about), and had a long history of dalliances with women of a certain type. We can say what we will about Obama, but he appears to genuinely be a family man who believes in community organizations and possesses an almost singular drive to bring transformation to table. Race is almost certainly a factor, but I doubt that it is nearly as significant as the MSM would like us to believe.

We are seeing a major realignment in parties, one that began a while ago and is now gaining momentum. For every woman (or man, for that matter) leaving the party, it seems that two more sign on. An issue of potentially massive significance often ignored or glossed over on Salon (I think - feel free to correct me if I am wrong, here) is a wave of younger Evangelical Christians who identify with Obama's faith and message of transformation. Stephen Mansfield's upcoming book about him is only going to further Obama's inroads among this group.

One has to wonder if a flood of progressive evangelicals makes some among the "old guard" nervous. The Democratic party will look very different a year from now than it did a year ago, and I personally feel it is about time (YMMV).

As for the Republicans, this will leave them will little to do but wallow in the past, playing the role of obstructionist to all forms of change following the realignment this fall. They will be on the outside looking for for the first time in more than a generation and some of the old Dems (Lieberman, etc.) will have the distinct displeasure of sharing this dark space with them.

The Doctor for VP pick! Obama would be ready for GOP attacks when he already knows how and when they will all happen! Best of all, he'll be ready for the Daleks! Everyone wins!

I myself was profoundly disappointed by the events of the Clinton administration, as it was clear that BC's dalliances would be a cudgel righteously wielded by the RWE (right wing establishment) to further their own agenda. I still don't know if a vote for impeachment was at all appropriate, but at the very least a formal censure was called for.

This being said, applying the same metric for the Bush administration, I should think we still DO have a good use for Guantanamo. Let's start with members of the MSM for good measure. Frankly, reports from the prison could be a new angle for traitors like Broder.

"i wouldn't for one second feel the burden on my shoulders if roe v. wade was overturned. that burden would sit with those people who assumed that we women (of all ages, it's not just the "older" ones, as I am not one of the older ones) would be okay with not being seen. not anymore we aren't."

Are you kidding me?!?! Are you bleedin' KIDDING me?!?! You don't care what happens to young women and their rights because you didn't get your pet candidate?

In five years, when my daughter is 17 and McCain is president after people like you sat out the election, how about YOU explain to her why you didn't give a crap about the big picture. Because what happens in the fall is a hell of a lot bigger than you, me, or a particular person running for office.

Thanks - I've been wanting to drop that gem since February. Today seems like as good a day as any.

But seriously, I hope we can get down to the business of trashing Grampa McCrankyPants in earnest. I've waiting to go to town on that guy!

...as if millions of pantsuits cried out in anger and were suddenly silenced...

"it is time to end the primacy of these two minor states in the beginning of primary season."

NH and Iowa are poor poster children for the nation as a whole. But what state would be a perfect representation? A national primary is the way to go.

...this raises an interesting point. I wouldn't mind seeing psychiatric evaluations for any party's candidate for President. We propose to put someone in charge of the nation's (still) over sized nuclear arsenal, much less our massive conventional military structure, and we aren't the least bit curious about that candidate's mental state?

Clinton has certainly learned a lot from eight years of the Bush Administration's "Our View versus Reality" policy. I am in transportation consulting for a profession, and the idea that a candidate for President would consistently pander to the inane concept that a small reduction in the gas tax would somehow address the real issues that plague our economy is deeply troubling.

Our infrastructure is falling apart, pure and simple. It was less than a year ago that the I35 West bridge in Minneapolis collapsed. Are people forgetting this? Everyone in our business agrees that this is only the beginning. I see bridges posted, closed to trucks and buses. I see roadways with potholes and outdated designs.

But let's just get rid of the gas tax. Let's hope that roadways magically fix themselves. Or we can get real about our transportation issues.