How bad is it?

So you wake up on Wednesday, November 3rd and molasses seems to be running in your veins. You're finding it hard to do the things you need to do and go to the places you need to go because in addition to the molasses in your veins, you've got an incredibly vicious and stinky monkey alternately screeching, attacking your legs and scrambling up and down your back. The forecast calls for patches of demoralization with desolate visibility. So there you are walking with your molasses, your monkey, under a greasy, grey sky. And you ask "How bad is it?"

It's bad.

In the aftermath of the Nov-Dec. 2000 post-election period, Loyal Opposition was clinging to optimism that our institutions, the moderate character of our people, and Bush's own experienced, pragmatic team of advisers would keep the more radical elements in check. "There won't be too much damage done--and what damage there is will likely result in gains for the Democrats!" Now, as we've heard, 9/11 changed everything. Bush's was a presidency adrift. That's a lie. His popularity levels were at 50% and the senate was in Democratic hands by one vote. That's the extent of the bad. BEFORE 9-11, Bush passed his misguided tax cut, his energy bill, No Child Left Behind, rescinded most of the latter day Clinton Administration environmental controls, withdrew from the Kyoto Treaty, started the process of further radicalizing the Federal courts, and obstructed federal stem cell research.

All before 9/11 gave him his aura. Now he has four more years. Now the Congress is even more in his control. Most Dems are scrambling just to keep up. We're not dealing with a process that can be reversed from 2008-2012. The radicals and the President's advisers have been tactically moving towards long-term Republican control. If the Democrats don't start thinking strategically and make the right choices, they will find themselves institutionally irrelevant. It could possibly be this election was the best thing to happen to the Dems, but only if they start the process of backing away from the precipice.

This is an enemy that moves on many levels and on many fronts. 2008 is not a foregone conclusion. And the damage that will be done will be done at a systemic level that will not be solved by one election. It's bad, people. Get out your drawing boards.