"....starting in 2005, something interesting began to happen in this country that has, for two years, made the Republican fear agenda utterly ineffective at winning elections, moving poll numbers, or shaping the national consciousness in any meaningful way. Americans are still afraid, but the nature of that fear has shifted. Instead of being afraid of what Republicans have traditionally told people to be afraid of, now most people are just afraid of Republicans. The devastation that is Iraq is at the root of this fear, but the attempt to destroy Social Security, the Terry Schaivo affair, the nightmare that is and was Hurricane Katrina, the revelations that everyone is being spied on, the drumbeat to war with Iran, and increasing awareness of global warming--I think the last two years have combined to create a national mood where most Americans are literally afraid of the Republicans running their lives." - - - Chris Bowers