Frankly, given the public fecklessness over private accounts for Social Security, I think the Republicans will get the blame unless they show a lot more skill and courage than I have seen out of Senator Frist.
Well, even I am not holding out much hope for that; (BUT on Brit's show tonight, they had a poll that shows the public IS coming around, up 3 percent, to 56 percent, I think.)
Not very long ago, I tried to explain our concerns to a staffer for one of the senator's on the big committees; this is someone whose opinion I value and who has worked hard to get where he is.
He honestly seemed very surprised when I told him that WE have done OUR part in getting the election of 2004 done and that now WE expect THEM to deliver on the judges, immigration, etc. (I had the most ridiculous conversation I've ever had with a college graduate who claims to be a conservative about anchor babies, which ended with me telling him he needed to GET OUT of that building, because I know he knows better.)
Honest to God, the people in the building have NO clue; and I say again, this is somebody I know and care about. It was like we were talking past each other; when I told him that under NO circumstances would I EVER vote for John McCain, he was stunned; the only time our concerns come up on their scopes is when they need our votes.
And I will stop now, or I will rant to you like I did to him. I still get upset when I think about that four hour discussion! It was VERY discouraging.