What were the most significant political moments of 2006?

[TechBear_Seattle]

It's the end of 2006 so what the heck, let's do a retrospective.

Come up with a list of at least three events, situations, photo-ops, (mis)statements, etc. which you consider to be the most significant political moments of 2006. Not necessarily good or bad, but which have had -- or should have had -- the most impact on American politics. Please rank them from more significant to less significant. I am curious to see what others think.

[derby378]

1. Here's mine (most significant first)

Election Day, 2006

The passage of the Military Commissions Act (aka the "Torture Bill") by the House and Senate

Bush's admission of illegal domestic wiretaps and surveillance

Bush's rejection of the Baker-Hamilton study group's recommendations, opting instead for a "surge"

Sen. George Allen's "macaca" moment, resulting in the Clayton Williams-style self-destruciton of his re-election campaign

[demnan]

2. Mine

Maccaca Moment - the day George Allen started imploding

July's national letter from Howard Dean to get everyone canvassing

The Iraq war

[SCDem]

4. July Dean Letter and Maccaca moment

I concur.

I would put it 1) Dean letter in July (it motivated me to hold two GOTV workshops and eventually create a targeted GOTV strategy that involved walking with a group of volunteers every weekend in October and the weekend before the election - we collectively knocked on over 3,000 doors - and I hope to get it to 6,000 in 2008.) 2)Maccaca Moment 3)Foley (as that kind of brought down the whole Republicans are the morals and values Party)

[hijinx87]

3. hmmmmm.

the macaca moment. it flipped VA and was essential to the democratic
senate majority.

cheney's chief of staff indicted : should have had a devastating
impact on the * regime, but, alas . . . . .

rumsfeld resigns days after he is vigorously (re)endorsed by *.

[blm]

5. Alito filibuster/Iraq withdrawal vote separating truthtellers from establishment payersl

And the antics of those who danced around both issues.

[Cary]

6. Somewhere the tide of public opinion turned decidedly against the war.

I can't pinpoint that moment. It may have been in 2005. But that moment was our opportunity and apparently we were able to capitalize on it.

I hope we're competent enough to take it further so that we can clean up this mess.

[KKKarl is an idiot]

7. ..

1. Election day
2. George Allen's racist comment
3. Mark Foley

[MrCoffee]

8. my list

for whatever it's worth, here's mine:

1) Election day

2) Senate Democrats sell out on the MCA

3) Mark Foley and the death of Republican't "values"