Anyways, I kind of understand what you’re saying about the lessening of Bush-hatred. There was a distinct change in the Bush Administration’s actions after the 2006 Congressional blowout. There has been much written about that – how after that time period, the Vice President’s office (and the Rumsfeld contingent) lost a lot of its influence, which pervaded the first six years. I don’t know if Bush (who I think was more in over his head than full of power-thirsty intent) himself finally took a stand against that contingent, if it was a concession to the political reality of the Dems’ victory, or if it was just a function of the Condi Rice contingent managing something of a semi-coup. But something definitely happened that partly turned things around; the choices of Sec. Gates (who apparently is not even a registered Republican) and Gen. Petraeus – both of whom were selected solely because of their competence – were outstanding. That’s not to say the Bushies have been terribly praiseworthy the last two years – the Cheney/Rumsfeld faction didn’t disappear entirely, even if Rumsfeld himself was gone. But it is to say that the last two years have been a vast improvement over the previous six.

Like the real smooth “seance” joke.

Right.

Like the cool decision to vote “present” more often than any other politician.

That makes a lot of sense.

I got you.