OpenLeft has a fascinating look into the means through which Obama - who almost everyone finally acknowledges is the presumptive nominee, a fact which hasn't been in much doubt for months - has consolidated and transformed the base of money and power within the Democratic party, and what the future holds
There's certainly an "all the eggs in one basket" sense to this, but I can't help but allow hope to overwhelm skepticism. Once Obama is elected - which barring a major scandal or some sort of dramatic 9/11-type event I think is a near-certainty - we'll find out for sure. We could again end up with Clinton-style pandering, more "don't ask don't tell", COPA, AUMF, etc. But Obama has shown a surprising willingness to not just passively resist but actively attack this style of politics. He took a stand against the utter buffoonery of the gas-tax holiday and the faux-toughness of Clinton's "we won't talk to dictators" rhetoric, and has consistently used suprisingly nuanced and measured language in discussing policy, a refreshing change from the soundbite platitudes that have dominated for as long as I can remember
All of this gives me hope that if the political winds continue to blow in his direction (and at this point Obama is as much creating those winds as he is riding them) that we could have a real sea-change in American politics. As I said before, I think Obama's actual beliefs are far to the left of the mainstream discourse in the US. Whether he will have (or be able to create) the political capital to enact those beliefs remains to be seen, but I think there's a good chance that he will. Squeaking in with 51% of the vote and facing a GOP Congress, I'd have little hope of seeing major initiatives on our energy use, drug policy, or the Cuban embargo. But with 55% and a Democratic Congress, it might be a very different story
From your mouth to God’s ear.