"What's the Matter with Kansas?"

Kansas has been Republican since it was first made a state. I have just read the book, "What's the Matter with Kansas" by Thomas Frank which makes what is happening much more sensible historically. It seems that the conventional old line Republican Kansas has been taken over by Christian fundamentalists. Remember it was not long ago that the Kansas school board dictated that Creationism be taught in their schools. At any rate, they now control Kansas politics. So now, those traditional Republicans are having to change party in order to put forth their conservative viewpoints. In fact, author Frank was born and raised a Republican but decided to switch from the degenerative form of Republicanism found today in Kansas. It has become economically disastrous for the people of the state which is now on par with Mississippi..AG

Ex-Kansas GOP chair switches affiliation
By JOHN MILBURN, Associated Press Writer Tue May 30

TOPEKA, Kan. - The former chairman of the Kansas Republican Party jumped ship in a big way Tuesday, switching his affiliation to Democrat amid speculation that he would become Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' running mate.

Johnson County Elections Commissioner Brian Newby confirmed that Mark Parkinson, the state GOP chairman from 1999 to 2003, came to the office and switched his party affiliation shortly before noon.

Parkinson's name has been widely circulated as Sebelius' choice for a running mate as the Democratic governor seeks a second term. Current Lt. Gov. John Moore — another former Republican — is retiring when his term expires in early 2007.

Sebelius spokeswoman, Nicole Corcoran, would not comment about Parkinson, but said an announcement of the governor's choice of running mates was scheduled Wednesday not far from Parkinson's home in Olathe, a Kansas City suburb.

"Traditionally, you do see that the first stop would be in or around that person's home base. It would be safe to assume that she would be choosing someone from the Johnson County area," Corcoran said.

Parkinson didn't immediately return calls seeking comment.

Johnson County District Attorney Paul Morrison also switched parties from Republican to Democrat to challenge Attorney General Phill Kline, a Republican, in the November election.

Republican House Speaker Doug Mays said he was disgusted by Parkinson's lack of loyalty to the party that made him chairman, but he isn't surprised by the rift.

The Republican Party, which has dominated Kansas politics since statehood, has shifted to the right in recent years and it inevitably will shift back to the left, he said. Instead of defecting to challenge one another, though, Republicans need to find common ground, he said.

Democrats could fumble.....

"And Democrats could fumble the opportunity" – I worry, and I hope all Democrats worry that we could screw it up - again! The mid-term elections uniquely are free of party personalities running for the presidency - so the elections are a matter of pure policy and government.

The mid-terms are of the issues and everyone knows that the Republicans catering to God, greed and the red-white-‘n blue can capture huge followings. Hatred is a great garner of votes such as hatred of non-Christians, Mexicans and gays. The ‘sanctity of life' coupled to stem-cell research certainly has a stalwart following where subservient women even vote against their own interests.

None of these people, who generally are incapable of understanding the real problems our nation faces for its survival -- can be convinced to vote for anyone other than their local Medicine men who tell them to trust in God, vote Republican and all will be well...

So yes, as bad as it looks for the Republicans - I fear that they'll win yet again in 2006 and in that case, it is time for all of us to hunker down with the few assets we have and wait for Armageddon - because there will be no salvation here on Earth. ...AG

Analysis: Democrats wary of November vote
By RON FOURNIER, AP Political Writer Mon May 29

WASHINGTON - Republicans are three steps from a November shellacking — each a grim possibility if habitually divided Democrats get their acts together.

First step: Voters must focus on the national landscape on Nov. 7 rather than local issues and personalities that usually dominate midterm elections. That would sting Republicans, who trail badly in national polls.

Second step: Voters must be so angry at Washington and politics in general that an anti-incumbent, throw-the-bums-out mentality sweeps the nation. That would wound Republicans, the majority party.

Third step: Americans must view the elections as a referendum on President Bush and the GOP-led Congress, siding with Democrats in a symbolic vote against the Iraq war, rising gas prices, economic insecurity and the nagging sense that the nation is on the wrong track. That would destroy Republicans, sweeping them from power in one or both chambers and making Bush a lame duck.

Less than six months out, most Democratic and Republican strategists say the first two elements are in place for now — a national, anti-incumbent mind-set — and all signs point to the third.

Still, many Democrats worry that their party has not closed the deal. "The fear I have as a Democrat is that if we are making this solely a referendum on the Republicans, we are not giving people a reason to turn out," said Democratic strategist Chris Lehane of California. "Having said that, I think all these other elements are so bad for the Republicans that 'Had enough?' should be enough."

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean and the party's congressional leaders have clashed over money and the DNC's push for a unified message that draws a stark contrast with the GOP.

Inside the DNC, some officials point to internal polls that show voters holding both the Democratic and Republican parties in equally low esteem. The fact that most voters, when forced to choose, tell pollsters they want Democrats rather than Republicans to control Congress is not a sign of strength, these officials say. Rather, it's evidence that voters are simply giving Democrats a chance to win them over — a chance that can be blown unless Democrats stand for something other than attacking Bush, these officials said.

Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, the head of the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee, agreed that Democrats have not sealed the deal. "I think if the election were held today, there is a 50-50 chance of taking the House and the Senate and a very high percentage of gaining a significant number of seats," Schumer said. "But things change."

Democrats outside Congress will be disappointed with anything less than major triumphs. "Shame on us if we don't have a good election cycle," said Jill Alper, a Democratic strategist from Michigan.

Back to those three steps.
NATIONAL ELECTION: Among the two dozen Republican and Democratic strategists interviewed in the last two weeks, there was unanimity that the fall campaigns will be national in scope. Voters will give local issues less attention than normal, a bad sign for the GOP.

"If we keep it local we win; if they nationalize issues, they win," said Michigan Republican Party Chairman Saul Anuzis.

Sen. Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina, head of the GOP Senate committee, seemed resigned to a national campaign. "Obviously, we're going to do everything we can here at the Senate committee to minimize any aspect of that," she said.

THROW THE BUMS OUT: More than 70 percent of Americans tell pollsters that the nation is on the wrong track. Larger percentages think corruption is a major problem in Washington. Incumbents have been roughed up already this year in Pennsylvania and Indiana, and in both cases Republicans suffered the worst.

If this shapes up to be an anti-incumbent midterm, "we'll lose some members" in Congress, said Democratic strategist Steve Elmendorf, "but they have more incumbents."

ANTI-REPUBLICAN TIDE: Whether 2006 turns out to be an anti-incumbent or anti-GOP election "is the 15-seat question," said Democratic strategist Dane Strother, referring to the number of seats the Democrats need to win to seize control of the House.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., says GOP majorities are "clearly in jeopardy" because the political landscape is both anti-incumbent and anti-Republican. "They know that Republicans are in charge," the grim-faced presidential hopeful said of voters. "But I just want to emphasize that we have six months, and we can turn this around."

And Democrats could fumble the opportunity.

Constitution: Separation of Powers

Just so we're all on the same page, I found this on Wikipedia:

Separation of powers is a political doctrine under which the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government are kept distinct, to prevent abuse of power.

The doctrine traces back to ancient Greece and was further developed by English and French philosophers. In the United States Constitution, the phrase separation of powers never appears, but is clearly implied by the structure of the Constitution. Therein, "all legislative Powers" are "vested in a Congress of the United States", "the executive Power" is "vested in the President of the United States, and "the judicial Power" is "vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish". Each branch has powers that restrain the other branches in a system of checks and balances that are designed to prevent the concentration and abuse of power.

Doesn't the separation of powers also apply to the People? Don't they also have certain powers which, although passive, prevent them from being screwed by their government?

In my opinion, you catch a crook wherever you find him. A Congressman's job may be ‘above the law' but certainly the Congressman himself should not be - nor should the President for that matter.

Granted, this administration has been allowed by the Congress to break many laws. But now, it is pushed out of shape because all of a sudden it affects them! Well, in my opinion, their laments and wailing are music to my ears! If they can't police themselves, then someone should! ...AG]
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Attorney General prepared to quit over Jefferson probe: NYT
Sat May 27

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and FBI director Robert S. Mueller III said this week that they were prepared to quit if the White House directed them to relinquish evidence seized in a disputed search of a House member's office, The New York Times reported on Saturday.

Citing government officials, the Times reported that Gonzalez was joined in raising the possibility of resignation by the deputy attorney general, Paul McNulty, who told associates that they had an obligation to protect evidence in a criminal case and would not be willing to follow a White House order to return the material to Congress. McNulty, the newspaper said, was instrumental in the resignation threats.

Bush on Thursday ordered the evidence sealed for 45 days to give Congress and Justice a chance to work out a deal, averting a showdown.

The FBI seized evidence last Saturday from the office of Rep. William Jefferson, a Louisiana Democrat. House leaders objected, saying they had violated the Constitution, and demanded that Justice return the evidence.

Former associates have said Jefferson accepted more than $400,000 in bribes to help them sell telecommunications technology to Nigeria and other West African countries.

Two of those associates have pleaded guilty to bribery charges, and the FBI disclosed on Sunday it has videotaped Jefferson accepting bribe money and has found $90,000 in cash in his freezer.

The Price of Gas is too low....

Last night Larry King (CNN) had a small forum concerning energy costs and availability. It was very good for one-hour TV including commercials. His guests were two congress people (a Republican and a Democrat), the CEO of Chevron, a guy from an energy research organization, and Sir (?) - the CEO of Virgin airlines. It was very civil with no shouting and in fact, considering the different points of view, they were in surprising agreement that we need an energy policy in this country which includes a massive investment in alternative fuels and energy sources.

However, where I live with my home backing on a major secondary road leading up to the Hualapai mountains, I have to conclude that the price of gasoline is far too low!

Every day (not just weekends) I sit on my southern porch and watch muscle cars and pick-up trucks racing each other at sixty and seventy miles per hour up the two-lane 4%, 40 mph grade. There has been no reduction in that behavior - in fact, it may have intensified in the two plus years we've lived here.

It seems that the big hobby here are ATV's. The young couple with two small children have four of ‘em in their garage along with her sleek black SUV. Even with a three car garage, his two pickups have to stay outside.

The Transwestern pipeline passes about 100 yards east of us, crosses under the road and its dirt service road can be seen going off to the horizon. It is a favorite ATV destination with whole herds of them racing across the desert raising huge clouds of dust with no destination - just a place to drive ‘em.

In the parking lots here, my old Ford Explorer is dwarfed by Excursions, Toyotas, and even the Cadilac SUV's. If big is good, then bigger is better and gigantic is best! ... and I won't even talk about all of the Humvee's around town.... No, gas prices aren't even close to what they should be. Americans may bitch about them, but it seems they're still able to waste the stuff.

Hmmmm.... wonder where all of those ecological hybrids are?

Gay-Marriage Ban

[Hmmm.... why don't they just bring it up, vote it down and forget about it? Specter and Leahy are right, it is a waste of time because they'll never get a 2/3rds vote in the Senate nor support from 2/3rds of the states to pass the nonsense. The societal fuss over Gayness is just a trivial bug-a-boo designed to avoid the real problems in this country. It is a political distraction aimed at our intellectually challenged citizens.

If marriage is threatened, which I don't believe, it will be because many, if not most young people no longer see the point in it. It also seems to me that the bigger the wedding, the quicker the divorce! As to children, the worst influence on their social and intellectual development is our parentless system which requires both parents to work to survive economically. Baby sitters don't usually nurture - they just sit! Nor are teachers and schools in the business of ‘socializing' children - their function is to throw facts and skills at them whether they learn them or not, then turn them loose on society. Love, family and direction can only come from parents... AG]

Senate panel OKs gay-marriage ban
By Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Senate panel advanced a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage on Thursday as the committee chairman shouted "good riddance" to a Democrat who walked out of the tense session.

"If you want to leave, good riddance," Senate Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter told Wisconsin Democratic Sen. Russell Feingold, who refused to participate because, he said, the meeting was not sufficiently open to the public.

"I've enjoyed your lecture too. See you later, Mr. Chairman," Feingold told the Pennsylvania Republican before storming out. The testy exchange highlighted tensions over the proposal, which would amend the U.S. Constitution to prevent states from recognizing same-sex marriages.

The measure passed 10-8 on a party-line vote in a brief session held in a small, private chamber just off the Senate floor. Specter said he voted for the amendment because he thought it should be taken up by the full Senate, even though he does not support it.

The gay-marriage ban is one of several hot-button social issues Republicans are raising to rally conservative voters ahead of November's congressional elections.

Because the measure would change the Constitution, it must pass both houses of Congress by a two-thirds majority and then be approved by at least 38 states.

The measure failed in the Senate in 2004 and is not expected to pass this year either. Kansas Republican Sen. Sam Brownback said he expects it to be brought up for a vote in the full Senate in early June.

Gay marriage has been a hot topic since a Massachusetts court ruled in 2003 the state legislature could not ban it, paving the way for America's first same-sex marriages in May the following year.

At least 13 states have passed amendments banning gay marriage while two -- Vermont and Connecticut -- have legalized civil unions. California, New Jersey, Maine, the District of Columbia and Hawaii each offer gay couples some legal rights as partners.

Legal challenges seeking permission for gays and lesbians to marry are pending in 10 states.

"This issue's either going to be resolved by the courts or by this body," Brownback said.

Just over half of all Americans oppose same-sex marriage, according to a March poll by the Pew Research center, down from 63 percent in February 2004.

Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy, the committee's top Democrat, said the gay marriage ban was a waste of time for a committee that needs to tackle a wide range of other pressing issues, from judicial nominations to oversight of the National Security Administration's domestic-spying program.

"I didn't realize marriages were so threatened. Nor did my wife of 44 years," Leahy said.

Leahy said Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch, who supports the gay-marriage ban, has expressed support for polygamists in his home state of Utah.

"I never said that," Hatch responded. "I know some (polygamists) that are very sincere. ... Don't accuse me of wanting to have polygamy." [Yeah, and so are some Catholic priests very sincere! Those Catholics hunger for tender young boys while the Mormons go for tender young girls! In either case, they're pedophiles!.... AG]

Cheney, leaks and books I'm reading....

Cheney the Focus of CIA Leak Court Filing -- Of course, this is old stuff and we all know what happened and why. However, proof in a court of law is much different than our "common (sense) knowledge" so evidence has to be trudging and belabored. Of course by the time the proof is actually established, either Cheney will have died of a heart attack and our flags will be at half-mast for about a week, or the Bush Presidency will be over and either Hillery or Jeb will be our new royalty, or the nation will be in receivership - so who cares - and all of this will be a mere footnote in some obscure history book.

But then, every cloud has a silver lining - I like to read history books! I don't read a lot (without going to sleep) so it does take time for me to get through books. It is even worse now because I'm reading three books at once.

I'm still reading Friedman's "The world is Flat" which is a very depressing book about the future of America and its inability to compete economically with the rest of the world.

But then to cheer me up I'm reading the very small "Jefferson Bible" by of course, Thomas Jefferson which he entitled, "The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth".

What a brilliant man Jefferson was, as you all know, he wrote the ‘Declaration of Independence' and was vice President to the second President, John Adams, and then became the 3rd President of our nation and sponsored the Lewis and Clark expedition so the nation would have some idea of how large and varied it is. [And I still shiver at the fact that Jefferson died on July 4th exactly fifty years after he wrote the Declaration of Independence and that his good friend, President John Adams died that same day only four hours later. Makes one almost want to believe in providence!]

In this very small book it explains the editing (literally cutting out with scissors the magical, evangelical crap [my word] from the New Testament) and that he used not only the King James Bible, but also Greek, Latin and French versions (six Bibles in all) - since he was proficient in those languages.

His reason was that he appreciated, admired Jesus and wished the world to understand the actual teachings and life of Jesus which he thought were greatly obscured by ignorant and false attributions by those who actually wrote the New Testament.

The extensive and interesting historical introduction to the book was written by Forrest Church, son of Senator, Frank Church (1924-1984). Forrest is presently the senior minister of All Souls Church in NYC.

Perhaps the most involving book I'm reading is Jon Meacham's just published, "American Gospel" which involves "God, the Founding Fathers, and the Making of a Nation."

I would certainly suggest that any Christian Fundamentalists read this book about the religious history of our nation before they put forth their faux wishes to return to the nation of our forefathers. It has been a long struggle out of depravity and evil - all in the name of God (or Jesus).

Although American citizens are predominantly Christians, we are not and never were a "Christian Nation". As I mentioned above concerning the "Jefferson Bible", Thomas Jefferson was an admirer of Jesus' intellect, morals and ability to present a proverb to explain a social truth, but he, along with Washington, Adams, Franklin and others were deists, not Christians and though they actually believed in an often ‘providential' God (as did Lincoln), they were not orthodox Christians and they were well aware of the tyrannies of organized religion - especially if that religion became part of government and law.

What they really wanted in their nation was individual freedom, especially of thought and self-determination. However, they lived in a tumultuous civilization and could only attempt to form ‘a more perfect union'. All in all, I think they did a good job.

But, back to the future....

Cheney the Focus of CIA Leak Court Filing
By PETE YOST, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - In a new court filing, the prosecutor in the CIA leak case revealed that Vice President Dick Cheney made handwritten references to CIA officer Valerie Plame — albeit not by name — before her identity was publicly exposed.

The new court filing is the second in little more than a month by Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald mentioning Cheney as being closely focused with his then-chief of staff, I. Lewis Libby, on Bush administration critic Joseph Wilson, who is married to Plame.

With the two court filings, Fitzgerald has pointed to an important role for the vice president in the weeks leading up to the leaking of Plame's identity.

In the latest court filing late Friday, Fitzgerald said he intends to introduce at Libby's trial in January a copy of Wilson's op-ed article in The New York Times "bearing handwritten notations by the vice president." The article was published on July 6, 2003, eight days before Plame's identity was exposed by conservative columnist Bob Novak.

The notations "support the proposition that publication of the Wilson Op Ed acutely focused the attention of the vice president and the defendant — his chief of staff — on Mr. Wilson, on the assertions made in the article and on responding to those assertions."

The article containing Cheney's notes "reflects the contemporaneous reaction of the vice president to Mr. Wilson's Op Ed article," the prosecutor said. "This is relevant to establishing some of the facts that were viewed as important by the defendant's immediate superior, including whether Mr. Wilson's wife had 'sent him on a junket,' the filing states.

The reference is to the fact that the CIA sent Wilson on a trip to Africa in 2002 to check out a report that Iraq had made attempts to acquire uranium yellowcake from Niger. Wilson concluded that it was highly doubtful an agreement to purchase uranium had been made.

The Bush administration used the intelligence on supposed efforts by Iraq to acquire uranium from Africa to bolster its case for going to war.

After the invasion, with the Bush White House under pressure because no weapons of mass destruction had been found in Iraq, Wilson wrote the op ed piece for The Times. In it, he accused the Bush administration of exaggerating prewar intelligence to exaggerate an Iraqi threat from weapons of mass destruction.

Defending the administration against Wilson's accusations, Libby and presidential adviser Karl Rove promoted the idea that Wilson's wife, Plame, had sent him on the trip to Africa. Administration critics have said such a move was an attempt to undercut Wilson's credibility.

The prosecution's court papers also stated that Cheney told Libby around June 12, 2003, that Wilson's wife worked at the CIA, a month before her identity was outed.

Hmmmm....

'Transgenders' and homosexuality have been around for thousands if not millions of years, I'm certain - and we're not the only animals which display those tendencies. (Perhaps God intended it to be thus... since He is reputedly perfect!)

It seems to me that as a society, we should recognize these "aberations" as normal and learn to live with them.

As to promoting gayness as an alternative life style - just as 'alternative medicines', I think, is questionable. But since gayness* is not "catchy" it probably doesn't do much harm.

However, I think contributions to our society by famous gays such as J. Edgar Hoover who ran our FBI for many decades should be recognized. ....AG]

California okays lessons on gays in textbooks

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California's state Senate passed a bill on Thursday that would require textbooks in public schools to instruct students on contributions by gays and lesbians in the state's development.

The Democrat-led state Senate passed the bill on a 22-15 vote and forwarded it to the state Assembly.

The bill by Sen. Sheila Kuehl, the legislature's first openly gay member, would also mandate public school textbooks to include lessons on contributions by transgender people.
Kuehl told Reuters she believes her bill is the first of its kind at the state level and predicted it would win support in the Assembly, where Democrats also have a majority.

"I think it has a very good chance in the Assembly because its members voted for marriage equality," Kuehl said, referring to the chamber's endorsement of same-sex marriage. "I think this is a lot easier vote." "It would help to shape attitudes of what gay people are really like," Kuehl said, noting their absence in state history textbooks.

Karen England of the conservative Capitol Resource Institute said in a statement the bill "seeks to indoctrinate innocent children caught in the tug-of-war between traditional families and the outrageous homosexual agenda."

A spokesman said Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has not taken a position on Kuehl's bill.

*I understand that there is a "gayness gene" which has been found in a large number of fundamentalist Christians who are in denial. They all know who they are, Jerry!

Bush ratings....

Haven't discussed politics much lately. The following piece is reasonably predictable but I am somewhat confused. It seems that the reporter, Whitesides, makes a distinction between what he calls "conservatives" and "Republicans" while I always thought of them as peas in a pod.

The difference "52 percent of conservatives and 68 percent of Republicans" approval rating makes me wonder what group constitutes what he calls conservative. I would guess that if you're registered Republican, then you'd be in that group. Does he mean by conservative, the Christian fundamentalists or does he include Independents - or both?

Whitesides does explain that the problem appears to be performance rather than ideology. From my point of view, Bush performance (including the House of Representatives) has been too effective.

What Bush lacks is judgement. He has very consistently made the wrong choices (conservative) and truly led us down the wrong garden path. If we continue down that path we will have economic melt-down and massive, probably world-wide depression - not just recession. It will then be necessary for the EU and China to lift the world out of the mess leaving the US as a secondary participant in world affairs - which might be good for us, except that we ‘have the bomb' and Bush seems willing to use it!

The problem with that is that when a political leader gets in trouble with his domestic policies and people, the best way out is to start a war! That is the primary reason we are rattling our swords at Iran and elsewhere.

A war would, of course, be disastrous and probably finish us off as a nation. Of course, that would end our immigration problems! Guess you can always find a silver lining if you look hard enough! ...AG

Polls show Bush losing conservative support
By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Even conservatives are losing faith in President George W. Bush now, putting Republican control of Congress at risk in November's midterm elections.

Six months before voters decide the balance of power in Congress, an increasingly gloomy and anxious electorate has become disenchanted with Bush and grown more pessimistic about the
Iraq war, gas prices and the country's future, according to a flurry of recent polls.

More than two-thirds of the American public thinks the country is on the wrong track and voters prefer Democrats to Republicans by double-digits margins. Bush's job approval rating has reached a low for his presidency of 31 percent.

Throughout Bush's five-year presidency, conservatives have remained remarkably faithful. But the latest polls suggest that is no longer true.

A Gallup poll this week found just 52 percent of conservatives and 68 percent of Republicans approved of Bush's performance, record lows for both.

Polls also show Democratic voters are more motivated and enthusiastic about November's election, a reversal of the political mood in 1994 when Republicans swept to victory and took control of both houses of Congress

"Unless they can find a way to inspire some enthusiasm among voters, Republicans are toast. This is a very serious erosion of support," said Karlyn Bowman, a poll analyst at the conservative American Enterprise Institute.

"If things keep going as they are, the Republicans are in enormous trouble in November," she said.

DOUBTS ABOUT COMPETENCE
Andrew Kohut, director of the Pew Research Center, said conservative unhappiness at Bush's handling of the now-dead Dubai ports deal and the growth of federal spending has grown to encompass doubts about his leadership and competence.

"Many conservatives think Bush hasn't stuck to his core principles, but that is just part of it," Kohut said. "This is not strictly about ideology, this is about performance."

Republicans have appeared in disarray as they squabbled over spending, immigration, what to do about record-high gas prices and the port deal.

"The dynamic over the last 12 or 15 years has been Democrats split, Republicans united," said Sen. Charles Schumer (news, bio, voting record) of New York, chairman of the Democratic Senate campaign committee.

This year, he said, "on issue after issue, immigration the most, it's Republicans split, Democrats united."

Democrats must gain six seats in the Senate and 15 in the House of Representatives to reclaim control, a task strategists in both parties say is tough but possible.

"If we do hold our majority in the House, it will be a testament to gerrymandering," said Republican consultant Dan Schnur, referring to the politically motivated redrawing of district boundaries after the 2000 Census that helped protect many incumbents in both parties.

In the Senate, Democrats must beat at least five incumbent Republicans to regain control, a difficult challenge even in a favorable Democratic political climate.

Republicans hope to rally conservative support with a $70 billion tax cut package approved by the House, a series of votes on hot-button social issues like gay marriage and warnings about the consequences of Democratic control.

Brian Nick, spokesman for the Republican Senate campaign committee, said there was time to recover. "It is a tough environment for Republicans and we've had the wind in our face for months now, but we have six months to get our message out and show the Democrats are not a good alternative," he said.

Immigration and Demonstrations....

Well, I predicted that the talking heads would be out in force muddying the issue on the overwhelming showing of immigrants in every major city in the country - I was right! Larry King had a host of divergent views including Frist of the Senate and the Grinch, Rohrbacher of the evil House and all the other "players" including CNN's Lou Dobbs in this game with their posturing.

I was a bit surprised that there was only marginal mention of "homeland security" which is, of course an expensive joke. I suspect that even though every participant claimed that ‘the American people' are behind them, I suspect that the realization is starting to sink in that the American people are not all that worried about big bad bombers sneaking across the border to terrorize the nation, or -- if they are, that big brother is capable of stopping them! After all, remember that ALL of the terrorist participants of 9/11 were LEGAL!

The reason I say that is because we as a nation are, have been, and always will be, totally incapable of preventing the flow of drugs or anything else, so how do we stop illegal immigration aside from legalizing it? - and then, miraculously, it just goes away!

Think about it! If we legalize immigration of Canadians and Mexicans, then they could flow across our borders simply by registering and a simple background check. I'm sure then that all of those who want jobs would do that. Criminals, drug runners and terrorists would then find themselves under closer scrutiny when they attempt to sneak across - rather than simply ‘running with the bulls' across the border.

Lou Dobbs, who I usually agree with - but not this time, thinks that they lower the incomes of the vaunted middle class, but that simply is not true! The middle class in this country is jeopardized by the gradual demise of the unions which were the only entity which created the middle class in the first place - we didn't have one to start with - read your history, cousins! When they are gone, the middle class will disappear and there will only be the very wealthy and the very poor - as it is in so many other 3rd world nations. The problem with Lou Dobbs is that his expertise is in economic theory and not in American history!

I do agree with Lou that the exporting of American jobs overseas to Asian countries also helps destroy the middle class, but certainly that has nothing to do with immigration.

I guess, word got out that the display of Mexican flags was counterproductive because most flags carried about in the demonstrations were American.

I do have one question which probably can't be answered, but I seriously doubt that the hundreds of thousands of people in the demonstrations shown across the country were all illegal immigrants. In fact, I suspect that a large majority were not only legal, but weren't even Mexican!
If my guess is true - we'll soon find out next November!

Of course, everyone seems to be up in arms over the British translation of the Star Spangled Banner into Spanish. I have but two comments on that. First: No one without voice training should attempt to sing the Star Spangled Banner - no, not again, Rosanne! Second: If the words to the song are better understood in Spanish in its reverence to the American flag – what is wrong with that?

We just bought a new washing machine and the instructions came in English, French, Spanish, and probably Swahili. The idea is to present the idea - language is not relevant!