Back in October 2005, I was excited and guardedly hopeful. In January 2006, I was thrilled.

[Stinky The Clown]

We did it. We won both houses of Congress.

I recall exhorting all of us to work hard so we would have the chance to say "Chairman Conyers" and "Chairman Waxman" and "Chairman Rangel"

I recall walking local streets getting out the vote on November 7, 2006. It was cool and rainy here, but spirits among the hundreds of volunteers who started with us that morning were soaring.

I recall being so happy that our biggest problem was determining if it would be Leader Murtha or Leader Hoyer.

I recall so clearly being thrilled that we had ***SPEAKER PELOSI***. Wow! Just WOW!

I recall all that ...............

.........

:sigh:

[blues90]

1. then the proof in the pudding

heated up and exploded right in our faces.

[Tutonic]

2. Yeah but imagine if Denny Hastert and Mitch McConnel was still in charge...Ok?

[lynettebro440]

3. Yes them were the days

and now hope is gone......

[originalpckelly]

4. Oh sweetie...

That October 2006, and January 2007. God, how time flies?

[tbyg52]

5. I remember buying a celebratory bunch of flowers

on my way home. I still look at the empty vase....

[SoCalDem]

6. Until we have 60 in the senate and 287 in the house

we are not able to guarantee anything.. and even then there will always be Zell Millers/Joe Liebermans who will go the "other way"..against us..

Republicans are (and always have been) ready to fight to the last man/woman to undo anythign good for the public, and to make sure their corporate overlords get all the money.. they use every procedure and ever tactic to make sure we don't "win"..even if we "win"..

[SheilaT]

7. Surely you mean

October 06 and January 05.

[readmoreoften]

8. And think how excited we'll all be when we win the Presidential election and sweep congress.

It'll all be so great. Everything is going to change overnight. For the first time the Democrats will be able to do everything they want. Except...

Well, except in 2009 they're going to show how gracious and bipartisan they can be and they'll pass all right wing legislation. Then in 2010, if they don't lose the midterms, which would put us back in Excuseland, they'll point out that it's only 2 more years until 2012, so they have to keep their powder dry. We'll get a $0.50 increase in the minimum wage, which Fox News will say is the cause of the economic crisis de jour and then the Democrats will handwring and move to the right.

I have little hope. Except that I hope I'm wrong as wrong can be.

[elehhhhna]

9. I remember literally doing a happydance in my front yard when DeLay was indicted.

good times...good times...