on abortion and gay civil unions - at best those are going to be decided by the states. most states that have put the gay issue to the voters, it has been defeated. abortion is one SCOTUS pick away from returning to the states as well. but if a Dem wins in 2008, forget those two issues - they are gone. Roe will remain in place, and the federal defense of marriage act will go.
The Rx program for medicare was a logical extension of it, given how prevalent drugs are to treat illnesses today.
the republican House was the only body standing in the way of amnesty - and enough conservatives "sent a message" in 2006, and shot themselves in the foot by helping to oust the one body that was blocking it. that's a perfect example of how the "cutting off your nose to spite your face" approach in politics doesn't work too well.