Happy thoughts

I'm nowhere near the point where I'm ready to call an electoral tidal wave in November. The GOP is too desperate, too power-mad, too in control of voting laws, and all too willing to retain power by any means necessary. Still, it'll be nice to start the weekend on a positive note.

The Washington Post's Chris Cillizza wrote today about the 20 House races he considers the most likely to fall to the other party-- and only one is held by a Democrat.

He's also of the opinion that the Texas governor's last-ditch effort to replace Tom DeLay on the ballot by calling a special write-in election isn't going to pay off:

Former Rep. Tom DeLay (R) isn't as smart as we thought he was. Although DeLay resigned from office and moved his official residence to Virginia, the courts refused to allow him to be replaced on the November ballot -- meaning that Republicans must run a write-in campaign. Their chosen nominee? Houston City Councilwoman Shelley Sekula-Gibbs. Not exactly the easiest name for a voter to remember and write-in. Former Rep. Nick Lampson (D) is sitting on $2.2 million and, despite the strong Republican lean of the district, he should be considered a favorite this fall.