The question of the day seems to be how to interpret recent generic polling that shows the Dems still trailing in general terms, either by a little or by a lot. No one doubts that if the Republicans actually take control of either house of Congress, they will again lead off with spurious investigations and other kinds of disruptions meant to solidify their political good fortune. The fact that their actions hurt the country doesn’t seem to matter to them at all.

I know for myself I am not as energized as I was in 2008, though I will vote of course, and I will vote for the Democratic candidate. Whatever issues I have with how the Democrats do things — and I have many issues with them — Republicans have no useful ideas for dealing with the problems we confront. I have no reason to doubt that Republican enthusiasm is higher now that they’re out of power. That is a natural state of affairs. But I have a hard time wrapping my mind around the idea that independents and conservative Dems have already forgotten what a terrible job the Republicans did for the country during the George W. Bush years.

But maybe that’s the way it’s going to go. I’m in a wait-and-see mode. I console myself with the certainty that any swing towards the Republicans will inevitably swing back, because I know that given a chance the Republicans will just fuck everything up again.