Yes, we're experiencing a sea change, but what will finally change the minds of those 28% to 30% of the citizenry that still insist to pollsters that Bush & Co. are doing a good job? They've been holding out against reality for a long time, and--as many of us know first hand from brainlocked relatives and neighbors--they continue to find rationalizations for Bush's failures.

The answer, I think, will be a dropping economy--from 2.5 GDP growth in Q4 to an estimated 1.3% in Q1 and probably lower still in Q2. A hard-landing recession a la Nouriel Roubini, driven by foreclosures and a drop in consumer spending will tear away the last veil of legitimacy from the right-wing surge.

A deep recession in 2007 coupled with continued revelations via Congressional oversight and mounting disaster in Iraq will offer Democrats an opportunity to effect one of those major realignments--to the Democrats in 1932 and the Republicans in 1980--that mark U.S. political history. Even "safe" Republican seats like Mitch McConnell's in Kentucky are likely to fall. The ideal Democratic presidential nominee will one who articulates a convincing anti-corporate/Republican-corruption/malfeasance message. John Edwards, as the one candidate who has consistently beaten corporate bad guys in court and who has a credible message of economic populism, may be the one to benefit most from this particular confluence of events.

From The Tempest by William Shakespeare:

"Full fathom five thy father lies;

Of his bones are coral made:

Those pearls that were his eyes:

Nothing of him that doth fade,

But doth suffer a sea-change

Into something rich and strange."

"Something rich and strange" is what we should strive for now, Anonymous. What good is puttings Republicans in jail or any other revenge? We can win the best of them over with fresh ideas.

Sea-change is a good start but we need to regroup and repair as a nation. In some ways, the underpinnings of the Republic may have been compromised, and we need to tread lightly- and ever so carefully.

There may come a chance for our generation to revive this wonderful country into something better than it ever was. That's what I hope for.

I watched Jon Stewart last night, too, and it was like a watershed following the Journal report on Wednesday.

I can't say I have a whole lot of hope, yet. It's so difficult, when you're under the shadow of titanic power, to see where the cracks might appear -- not cracks in the facade, but cracks that could undermine the foundations of their grip and influence.

But one thing did occur to me. What if people like us vocally and publicly boycotted all those media outlets, like the Washington Post, that not only failed so dismally but still refuse to admit their culpability? It's not much, I know, but if it gets enough attention it could be incredibly powerful. Point out that the boycott is not because we disagree with their politics, but because they have failed in their journalistic duty to the public, and try to hide that failure behind supposed "integrity."

Personally, I worked in newspapers too long to have any faith in them. I stopped reading them years ago. And TV news was so obviously bereft I couldn't stand to watch it. Maybe someone here could put together a good list of the worst offenders, and a good statement as to the purpose of the boycott?

From where I sit, little has changed in American politics and with the MSM and I don't see how it ever will.

There were approximately 150 million registered voters in the United States in 2000. About 1/3 of them or 50 million of them voted for Bush and roughly the same for Gore.

There were approximately 210 million registered voters in the U.S. for the 2004 election. Slightly less than a 1/3 of them voted for Bush again and slightly less than a third for Kerry.

I contrast that with a quick study of recent polls concerning support for Bush which shows about 1/3 of the respondents (the “country”) support the President or his position on the war. Idiots!!!

If the tide is changing, then why are all the leading Republican presidential candidates still supporting the war? Why does the lion’s share of Republicans in Congress defend and support the President, his administration and the war? From my viewpoint, the Republicans have to be some of the dumbest clucks in the world to fly in the face of “reality” yet they continue to do so. The GOP’s base seems to still be largely intact. Now come 2008, if the voters support for the GOP drops to say 25% or less then I would say the status quo has been substantially broken and that we can take that as a sign of political change.

One might assume correctly, that the tipping point in the past few elections has been largely decided by the independent vote. I wager that if the Democrats do not get us out of Iraq by the end of this year and if they do not address health care and immigration that the 2006 wins will be squandered and the 2008 election will be once again a toss up. Democrats will stand a real chance of losing any support they might have from the independents and crossovers. Worse, loyal Democrats and Republicans will remain enamored with their own respective parties and we will have status quo politics in Washington. Translated, that means 90% of Americans will suffer at the pleasure of the 10% wealthy elite.

Some of you might argue that the mid-term 2006 election was a sea of change. I would argue not really. We are still in Iraq and the most optimistic view of when we will be out is near the 2008 presidential election. I would say the Democrats given a mandate by the American people have not delivered on their promise to get us out of Iraq as soon as possible. This could easily be done without resorting to politicizing the discussion and tying withdraw dates to funding the war. If the Dems want to go that route then they just should not fund the war.

Assuming half of what has been revealed since the beginning of the year were true and which GG (thank you) has so clearly edified then why aren’t the Democrats calling for impeachment - Bush and/or Cheney? Sorry to be so tacky, but does it not strike you as bizarre that lying about receiving a blow job is an impeachable offense while crimes against humanity and the Constitution are not? We saw Thursday night where the leading Democratic presidential candidates stand on impeaching Cheney. The Democratic Party is in the leadership positions by name only! If that is a brighter sign then I am confused.

Finally, the news bureaus of the major networks and the major newspapers in this country are not going to fire any of their reporters for not doing their jobs. The Broders of the world will always have a job and readership for as long as they continue. Bottom line - the MSM is not going to change how they report the news and most people are not going to stop listening, reading or (sadly) believing the MSM.

A thousand pardons to you “the glass is half full people” from this (I hope I am wrong) “the glass is half empty” liberal.

I will say, if and when this country ever becomes a democracy, I will share in your euphoria!!