Are you there Democrats? It's me, Matt Sandwich.

When the Democrats won in November in what pundits were calling an "electoral tidal wave," (as far as that goes when incumbents win 90% of elections) I didn't expect much to change. Small majorities in both houses still gave the GOP plenty of opportunities to work their voodoo through procedural shenanigans and simple demagoguery. Best possible outcome? The Dems could prevent the neo-fascists from enacting their most sweeping, immoral and harmful legislation until the current administration left office in shame. Well, our shame as a nation-- not so much theirs.

That's what I hoped would happen. But at least I know why my 6-figure consulting fee hasn't come through yet.

The New York Times reports that Democrats in Congress seem ready to make permanent some of the surveillance powers they said they were granting the administration on a temporary basis this summer.

"As the debate over the eavesdropping powers of the National Security Agency begins anew this week, the emerging measures reflect the reality confronting the Democrats," the Times says. "Although willing to oppose the White House on the Iraq war, they remain nervous that they will be called soft on terrorism if they insist on strict curbs on gathering intelligence."

Memo to Democrats: You'd still be called "soft on terrorism" if you took it upon yourself to suit up in camouflage, fly to Pakistan and kill Osama bin Laden with your bare hands.

Democrats? Has it occurred to you that the reason your approval ratings are sinking to Republican levels is that you're doing the same things that took them there in the first place? You know, just a thought.