You may be the first person to ever accuse me of being an optimist. However, Nader thinking is what got us G.W. Bush in the first place.  Remember when there was no difference between him and Al Gore?

There is a difference, and it means something--for one thing, that the U.S. will move towards rejoining the international community, because the neocon spell has been broken. Issues like the climate crisis and alternative energy will be debated on far different terms than before.  

I fully expect to be upset by some of what Congress does and doesn't do.  But if the past six years haven't convinced everyone that there is a crucial difference between Bush Republicans and Democrats, I don't know what it would take.  I don't expect perfection--or, more to the point, perfect adherence to what I favor--but I believe what I outlined is going to happen.      

"The end of all intelligent analysis is to clear the way for synthesis." H.G. Wells "It's not dark yet, but it's getting there." Bob Dylan