An interesting post on The Democracy Project about "Conservative Battle Fatigue". I feel it, too. But I feel more strongly that the reason many Conservatives are abandoning the President (as expressed in the latest dismal poll numbers) is that he is failing to achieve or, sometimes, even fight for Conservative goals. From campaign finance reform that limits free speech to education reform that increases the level of Federal involvement in education to the on-going failure to control our borders, all the things that have annoyed or angered Conservatives since the beginning of this administration are now crystallizing into, if not quite opposition, then a lack of passionate, or even tepid, support.

Some Democrats are wondering if it might not be better to fall short in the November elections. The theory is that by leaving the GOP in control, they could be blamed for all the nation's ills right up to the election in November 2008, which would then lead to a Democratic sweep of Congress and the White House. I think there is something to this theory, but that we will not get a chance to test it. I think, unless something dramatic happens between now and November (which is very possible), the Democrats will win back the House and Senate. I know that you can walk through the races one-by-one and make the case that such an outcome is unlikely, based on poll numbers, but I get the sense that there is a political tsunami building, much like 1994. It will not be as dramatic in terms of numbers of seats changing hands, but it will result in a change of control. The bright side for the GOP is that this will allow them to re-organize and come back much stronger in '08, hopefully united behind a popular nominee. It will also force the Democrats to put up or shut up on a number of issues, like immigration, entitlement spending, the deficit and, most importantly, the war. They may also jump off the cliff of impeachment, which might just settle the question once and for all about whether the President and his people lied, or were simply mistaken, about WMDs in Iraq. If he lied, and that can be shown beyond a political doubt in the Senate, then he deserves to be removed from office (presumably, Cheney will be impeached as well and will go with him, which gives us.........President Pelosi!.......er, I guess maybe there will be enough political doubt, eh?)