However, I’ve seen far too much of the “This is the day when everything changed” hyperbole in my lifetime
Same here. Nothing changes over night. I’ve seen people extrapolate a single event or a point into a trend far too many times. It is no more valid in society than it is in math and science. It is possible that the point may be an inflection of change but it is not yet a trend.
You are probably right about the midfield but first we have to get there. I think the opposition has gotten well beyond our 40 yard marker.
When I feel safe getting bull dozer out of the barn to do some much needed erosion repair and prevention or building a new pond I’ll think we are close to shoving the opposition back far enough.
Easiest way to get a good argument going on FR is to ask "When did America change for the worse?".
IMO, it was Kennedy's assassination.
But, equally learned - or more learned - FReepers have cogently argued that it was when BO was elected. Or Bush. Or the Twin Towers. Or Clinton. Or the Hippie / Vietnam era. Or "1861 / 1865". Or it ended with FDR and the New Deal.
My far too labored point is that even with the advantage of history and hindsight, such things aren't obvious. :-)
No doubt this was a good week. The Dems advance was stopped in 2010, the Republicans fumbled in 2012, but we just got the ball back. Hopefully, we'll move it to midfield where it belongs.