As the occupation of Iraq enters, what seems to be, its final stages before erupting into an all-out civil war that threatens to engulf the entire region in one way or another, the situation in this country seems to remain steady as she goes. An election won, a new year begun, and it seems like the more things change the more they stay the same. The President seems reluctant to accept any advice or criticism from outside of his loyal circle, and would rather make boisterous statements about being the "decider" on all issues regarding the war regardless of which party is in power. The Vice President, in all of his ominous glory, would rather spar with Wolf Blitzer over the appropriateness of questions regarding his pregnant, lesbian daughter and proclaiming that nothing will stop the "surge" from advancing. Is it just me, or didn't we spend the entire last year, and most of the previous three, hearing exactly the same thing? If someone can tell me what the point of democracy is, then I'd love to hear it.