ome random thoughts. With the Supreme Court in mind it has been reported by the former White House speech writer and commentator, David Frum, that Ms. Harriet Miers once told him that W. was the most brilliant man she knew. Blum put that out for all the world to read and relish on his blog. It's worth repeating; Harriet (known to friends as Harry), believes that President Bush is the most intelligent man she knows. He, in turn, has nominated her for the Supreme Court of the United States. In announcing this the Chief Executive said that she was the most qualified person for the job. I wonder if he means that with the same conviction that his father felt when he made a similar claim for Dan Quayle; that he was the most qualified person to be Vice President of the United States?
With each passing day I become more and more convinced that the issue of corruption will become one of the central themes in the upcoming election campaigns. Lobbyist Jack Abramoff, a former close associate of the embattled House Majority Leader, Tom DeLay, the Texas Republican, is currently in the spotlight and being probed. DeLay himself represents one of the more significant blows to the Republican party in this year replete with problems. His indictment adds to the headwind that is now threatening the Republicans as they look toward the 2006 mid-term elections.  His indictment represents a powerfully disruptive force inside the party whose achievements have been built on a mastery of the mechanics of politics, on discipline and cohesion. Republican strategists are just about unanimous in their assessments that the party must brace for setbacks next year. On the ethics front the Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) is under investigation for selling stock in his family's medical business just before the price fell sharply. And then there's the situation with the White House senior advisor Karl Rove or others in the administration possibly breaking the law by leaking the name of the CIA's Valerie Plame.
The war is hobbling the President's popularity - polls show his support and support for the Iraqi offensive is at its lowest point to date and falling. The mess-up with FEMA when Katrina struck the Gulf Coast and several other significant issues have changed the overall picture for the President and the Republican party which, just a short while ago, looked forward to a period of unfettered growth and expansion.

How will the Democrats take advantage of the Republican troubles? They won't be able to unless they offer a prospectus that offers real alternatives, and a powerful advocate with a united party behind that person. I don't see anyone on the horizon at the moment. Do you?