One mark of an approaching crisis is the projection of desperation.
This is now all over Left Blogistan. The most popular "October Surprise" at this point is a nuclear attack on Iran, perhaps on Halloween.
For this reason, and based on other paranoid fantasies, leaders of Left Blogistan are certain that the electoral football is about to be snatched from them, Charlie Brown style. Markos Moulitsas, for instance, is predicting just 7-10 seats will switch parties this November, giving Republicans a blank check to do whatever the hell they want to.
But that’s now how these things work, historically.
At some point, inertia paralyzes the dominant thesis, which goes into auto-pilot just when its opponents are expecting some grand turnaround. Republicans were very cautious going into the 1966 elections (especially conservatives, since they had allowed most primaries to be won by more-liberal candidates), by Democrats in 1930, etc. etc. etc.
History shows opponents of the dominant Myth were giving its advocates too much credit. I think that is true in this case as well.
The fact is, a nuclear attack on Iran will not happen. We’re talking Fail Safe territory here. Iran is awfully close to Russia, it’s a lot closer to China than it is to us, and I feel it certain that diplomats from those countries will, if it comes to that, make their veto clear in no uncertain terms. And at that point, the American generals will simply refuse to comply, no matter how much King George may demand it.
The world, in other words, will not come to an end for anyone’s political convenience.
All of which leaves us with the situation on the ground.
- Most people have been made poorer by the current recovery.
- Housing prices are falling.
- New Orleans is still dead. Along with its suburbs and much of southern Mississippi.
- Our brave soldiers are dieing by the dozens in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Someone must be held accountable. Someone will be.
Don’t make any plans to visit the George W. Bush Library. I’m just saying. Not unless you want to visit Holland. 
