A North Carolia website, "TPJ" or The Political Junkies, posts some very interesting polling numbers today, particularly from the CBS/NY Times poll.

http://thepoliticaljunkies.net/Themdems.htm

A glance shows that public perceptions of the Democratic Party have changed surprisingly little in the past two years, though disaffection with the Republican party has taken a nose dive. The public confidence in that party has dropped by a third from when the parties were virtually tied two years ago.

That's great, and well-deserved, of course. But as Bill Clinton pointed out in Topeka on 3/2, Democrats should not mistake the November elections as a "mandate." Rather, it's a chance. And we will have to show the public that placing its trust in the party was a wise choice, if we are to progress. We must capitalize on the disaffection of the public with imperialistic adventures and mishandling of foreign policy and push for raising the standard of living of those who were "left behind" as Republicans cut taxes for the obscenely rich for the past six years.

In Kansas that certainly means the minority pushing the majority for passage and full funding of the governor's initiative to provide health care for all Kansas children.

We must also push the Republican majority in the legislature to abandon the Chamber of Commerce/Koch Industries resistance to raising our disgraceful minimum wage, $2.65 hourly, the lowest in the nation and its territories.

Finally, congressional and White House tax cutting has led us to the point that, as the director of the office of Managment and Budget pointed out on "60 Minutes" this evening, we are approaching national bankruptcy and fiscal ruin if our economic policies are not substantially revised. High on that list are revision of the Medicaid Part D Rx bill that was crafted by and for the pharmaceutical industry, so that it protects both seniors and taxpayers alike.