I think the outpouring of emotion following the publishing of anti-terror secrets in the New York Times points to the answer to Jim’s last question. Whichever party harnesses the power of the scared and angry mob wins. For the last few weeks, the Republicans have gained momentum, and the New York Times just made it a lot easier for them. Who can really disagree with President Bush that publishing military secrets while the nation’s beloved troops are in harm’s way is “disgraceful?”

I have no background or education in politics but I have had a keen interest in it for the last two and half years. I think that when Jim, obviously still possessing a bit of idealism, rhetorically asks: “But I wonder if you could really persuade a majority of voters to support a particular political agenda by citing that it is in line with the ideas of the Founding Fathers” he certainly knows the answer. That would be “no.”

What is going to win elections in this climate is presenting the message that your party is going to keep you and your kids alive for the next two or four years. It is that simple - well, and good signs and a physically attractive candidate are helpful.

I travel around the country a lot, meeting new folks almost every day in businesses and on planes. I don’t think there is a day that goes by when 9/11 is not mentioned to me. It is still on American’s minds - even if they are disengaged from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

As for me, I’m getting a little tired of the angry Right. My blog-reading list is getting smaller as the (lazy) angry voices are getting nearly insufferable. I’m still trying to sort out how it is that I used to agree with them - did I change or did they?