Welcome to Political Chernobyl, comrades. We all here just glowing with good cheer. Well, all of us except those who are paying attention, such as Peggy Noonan. Her piece in today’s WSJ (subscription required, I guess) strikes such a depressing note:

“It’s beyond, “The president is overwhelmed.” The presidency is overwhelmed. The whole government is. And people sense when an institution is overwhelmed. Citizens know. If we had a major terrorist event tomorrow half the country–more than half–would not trust the federal government to do what it has to do, would not trust it to tell the truth, would not trust it, period.” Is it really that bad? Yes and no.

Miers (and, we pray, her replacement), Fitzgerald, the war, Social Security, and the Clintonian Sword of Damocles – Hillary – can, in combination, depress. But fear not, hearts of oak. Regardless of the presents we receive on Fitzmas Day, of Harriet’s fate, and of hurricanes Beta through Zeta, we can always count on the liberals. The party of George McGovern is resurgent. Now it falls to us to ensure the same for the party of Ronald Reagan, from however many parts we may need to reassemble it.