Who Needs Republicans?

New York Times, today's top story
Democrats Seem Ready To Extend Wiretap Powers
..Fears of Appearing Soft on Terror
Two months after insisting that they would roll back broad eavesdropping powers won by the Bush administration, Democrats in Congress appear ready to make concessions that could extend some crucial powers given to the National Security Agency.

Washington Post, today's top story
Buyout Firms to Avoid a Tax Hike
Reid Passes Word Senate Won't Act
Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) has told private-equity firms in recent weeks that a tax-hike proposal they have spent millions of dollars to defeat will not get through the Senate this year, according to executives and lobbyists.

Analysis
Is this a sneak preview of the Clinton II era?
Tired of accusations from the party base of timid backpedaling on Iraq and Iran, top Democrats are boldly seeking to deflect attention to a wide range of other issues on which they are ready to sell out.