Update:  I initially posted the author as Michael Barone.  The article was actually written by Stuart Rothenberg; I've posted the correction.  Also, as one astute reader points out, the premise of the article is not that the Mountain West remains red, but that is it not trending blue.  In reality, the region has long shown a purplish (is that a word?) tendency.  I apologize for the mischaracterization.

It is interesting, given all this, that many are questioning her chances of winning the White House in 2008.  Making any predictions at this point is nothing more than throwing darts, of course, and the doubts which abound about Hillary serve to illustrate just how difficult it is to become the President of the United States of America, even for the well-heeled and politically skilled.

What is important to me at this point is the fact that the Democrats are in power now.  Should they be passing laws that hinder legitimate free speech - if that is indeed the case?  Absolutely not.  Should agencies like the ones who have sent me email alerts do what they can to keep that from happening?  Absolutely.  But the hard truth is the Democrats have the authority, if not the moral justification, to enact whatever they please, a presidential veto notwithstanding.  How did they get that power?  If you are a conservative who "sent the GOP a message" by staying home or voting third party, I've got a message for you.  Take a look in the mirror.  YOU are the reason.

Make sure you don't commit the same error in the future.  Regardless of how poorly the GOP acted like the conservatives they were supposed to be, liberal power in Washington is so much worse.  We're only beginning to pay for our temper tantrum last November.

From a strictly political standpoint, it is also great news for the GOP.  More than any other issue, embryonic stem-cell research threatens to undermine Republican political viability in many areas.  With the vast majority of Americans favoring this type of research and many of the GOP power-brokers and rank-and-file GOP faithful opposed to it, another source for stem cells is a huge development, one that could mean disaster in future elections has been averted.

However, I predict the pro-choice crowd will not let this issue rest in peace.  The debate over embryonic stem cells provides such promise for the pro-choice movement to gain an advantage among the electorate that they will fight to keep the divisiveness alive and kicking.

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