Remember checks and balances?

Dan Balz and David Broder have penned a ray of sunshine in today's Washington Post on the GOP's increasing vulnerability in the 2006 midterm elections. Quote [emphasis mine]:

Other GOP officials, while nervous, believe they can hold the House with aggressive local campaigns and a national effort to focus on terrorism and security to raise voter fears about the consequences of Democratic control.

All predict one of the most negative midterm elections in memory, with virtually no positive advertising from the national GOP committees or individual GOP candidates.

A Democratic takeover of one or both of the houses of Congress is by no means a foregone conclusion, but there is reason to believe that the American people are becoming increasingly aware of a fundamental imbalance in our government -- Congress is no longer able to adequately oversee the doings of the Executive. Another Balz / Broder quote:

... finger-pointing has begun as Republicans here and around the country blame the White House and the GOP congressional leadership for leaving Republican candidates in such a vulnerable position.

No kidding. My contribution to the world of bumper stickers: