"A blast from the past", or, "amazing how much can change in four years":

Walter Dean Burnham, the philosopher who coined realignment theory and a liberal through and through, was writing before the 2000 election that he thought the nation was realigning left. Barnes was right that Burnham's heart was broken after 2000 and in 2004, but Burnham's been predicting a realignment this year: [link]

I just got TV Tracker's "Movers & Shakers" email, which lists who has been promoted or moved to a new company. This listing made me laugh:

Barack Obama
Now: President-Elect, United States of America
Was: Senator, United States of America

OK, anyone from Maine familiar with a Moonpie/marshmallow/chocolate-cookie-and-whipped-cream-death-bomb thing called the Wicked Whoopie? One of the techs here just received a box of them in thanks for fixing his system, and I had one. My blood sugar is telling me I'm not allowed to eat for the rest of the week.

Why on earth did I think coming back to work was a reasonable idea?

Vacations do that.

I've been invited on a phenomenal trip next summer. The timing of it is rotten, and I don't know how the financials would work, but I'd kick myself if I didn't go. My kneejerk chicken is making me tired.

Wow, it's quiet here today. Everyone stuck with a hope hangover?

The third part of the Newsweek special is up. I found this oddly charming:

He had wanted to go back to the state of his first great triumph to give a speech unofficially kicking off the fall campaign, even though Clinton officially was still in the race. "That's an interesting belt buckle," he said to Michelle, mischievously. She feigned offense and said, "I am interesting, next to you. Surprise, surprise, a blue suit, a white shirt and a tie." Obama grinned and bent down until he was almost at eye level with her waist. He jabbed a playful finger toward her belt buckle, and let loose his inner nerd. "The lithium crystals! Beam me up, Scotty!" Obama squeaked, laughing at his own lame joke as Michelle rolled her eyes.

I just realized that Obama's daughters are the same ages as my two older nieces. Thing 8 million and 2 that has made me happy weepy in the last 24 hours.

I'm reading rumors that Obama may be asking Rahm Emanuel to be his Chief of Staff, and that Josh Lyman, from The West Wing was based on Emanuel. Which kind of makes me want to borrow all of my friend's West Wing dvds and settle in for a rewatch.

I thought Emanuel was confirmed. He seems like a good choice -- a real DC guy, from the Clinton administration, out of the House. I did not know that about Josh Lyman!

He did ask Emanuel, that was being reported this morning. Emanuel hasn't confirmed and there were no announcements planned for Wednesday, so it could be tomorrow before we know for sure, but the indicators are that Emanuel's leaning towards taking the position.