We must not allow our divisions over Iraq to blind us to the trend toward freedom. We ought to notice it, applaud it and do everything we can to encourage it further.

With Democrats likely to gain seats in the fall, are we likely to see more party switchers? Probably not.

Given the Bush administration"s refusal thus far to provide much detail regarding a second-term agenda, it"s hard to know how much the outcome of this fall's electionwill really matter.