Who Will Lead?

The Washington Post reports this morning on something that polls have been showing for quite some time now - that, given a half-alive opposition and continued problems, Republicans are in very bad shape going into next year's midterm elections. The problems don't seem all that likely to disappear anytime soon. However, the Democrats just haven't started pulling their weight yet as a credible alternative, polls indicate.

In the newest WaPo/ABC News poll, just 35% say they approve of the job Republicans in Congress; only 6% more, 41%, approve of the Democrats. While surveys indicate that as of now, voters would prefer that Democrats take control of Congress after next year's election, serious doubt remains over the Democrats' ability to govern (conversely, we know all too well how the Republicans have done for the last five years).

Who will step up? Will the Democrats get their act together, develop a decent opposition strategy, and lead the way? Or will they continue their ad hoc tactics and keep just stumbling along? Has the time come for the formation of a grand coalition of sensible people from both parties - and beyond - to emerge and demand decent government and an end to the current ridiculousness?

Something's got to give.