TOUGH TIMES ON THE LEFT:

Voters opt for change in S. Korea: Poor results for the ruling party in Wednesday's local elections portends an end to liberal rule in 2007. (Donald Kirk, 6/01/06, The Christian Science Monitor)

The perception of a central government unable to deal with economic problems and weak in the face of North Korean demands lies at the crux of a reaction that guaranteed conservative victories in two-thirds of the races for provincial governorships and mayors of major cities.

For Korea, the reversion to conservatism portends the downfall of a decade of liberal leadership in the next presidential election in December 2007. While the ruling party's efforts at reconciliation with North Korea were not the paramount issue, the sense of forever making concessions to the North was a factor in the voting - and could be among the policies that change if the liberals are ousted next year.

Yet the Democrats here think this the ideal moment to run on a platform of Taxes, Sodomy and Appeasement?

Posted by Orrin Judd at June 1, 2006 11:01 AM