No question about it, but it is Bush that they rally together over, and this effect is temporary, or will end after the 08 elections. They will be forced to find another rally cry, and if we get hit again, which is pretty likely, they will be forced to withdraw into the crap hole they came out of.
Note that the bulk of the money comes from only a handful of people like Soros, and the CEO of Progressive Insurance, along with a tight but small list of benefactors. This has been the case for decades, and cannot compare to the broad based Republican support.
They are basically a paper tiger, but public opinion has been manipulated by the one power they do have, and that is the media and elite higher education advocates who play with our children's minds and hearts.
In a two party system, they will win a few by default, but will always lose any momentum gained when the public discovers their inherent incompetency regarding international affairs and projecting U.S. power. They are weenies in this regard and always govern by poll.
They have a gift coming in the next two election cycles, but it is not of their doing. It would have happened, no matter how much money they spent. The American electorate is fickle, and they vote for change on a regular basis.
Unfortunately for us, it comes at the worst possible time, but that is a built in failing of Democracy and not a indication that the Democrats have become powerful again.
IMHO
I am pretty certain we, the Republican Party, will lose some power for a short time, as the public goes through their gyrations over Iraq. They don't understand the big picture, and Bush cannot seem to overcome this.
Our party politicians are distancing themselves more and more each day, and this will result in severe losses at the polls this year and in 08.
With our flanks left open, the Dems will be able to get a foot hold and a willing public will vote for change.
It will be a mistake that will not be understood for a few years, but I expect we will get it all back by 2012.
It is hard to predict what will happen in the interim. Bush has been steady as a rock, as a leader, and the public does not understand just how important this leadership has been.
The democrats govern via public opinion, and will screw up. They will likely pull the trigger in some misguided international incident, and will take us into the abyss of a global conflict. This is the gist of my discussion with Nopardons, and why I predicted what I did.
Bush is playing chess with these idiots, and Democrats will will be playing sand lot marbles. There is a very good likelihood, that Iran will get the bomb while democrats flail about over some diversion that Iran initiates, just as they have done in Lebanon. If Bush cannot neuter Iran before his term is up, we will be on the road to my prediction, and some very difficult years ahead. This is why Iraq is so very important in the big picture, and why we invaded in the first place. We need to hold on to power, but I fear that with all the party defections, our goose is cooked already.
And that is not a good thing.
One thing to warm to soul a little: If a Democrat did pull the trigger, the defections from their base would make the Republican's immigration problem seem like child's play!
This was a good discussion with you, I appreciate a thoughtful commentator