There appears to be something aobut he political process that reduces evrything to the lowest common denominator, and ideals falll by the wayside left and righr.

I've never felt committed to a party because it is a cerrtain party.
I just look around periodically to see which party and which candidate currently seems to be heading towards the goals I value most.

Disappointments are inevitable and hard to get over. I've felt sometimes, even recently, that retreating to a life in a cave is the only way I can deal with politics and politicians.

Then I realize that if I give up all hope, I'll be one of the living dead.
I don't want to die before I'm dead.

So we keep hoping, keep trying.

In the case of my current governor, however, I will give him the benefit of more than 8 weeks to get his bearings in an office he had no preparation to assume and then to determine how best he can effect the kind of change he's advocated over his legislative career.