Editors' note: Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., who passed away yesterday at age 89, contributed several articles to the Prospect over the years, in addition to serving as a founding sponsor of the magazine. His last piece, written for the December 2004 issue , foresaw the ruling GOP coalition's swift post-election demise. --- Alan Brinkley's illuminating piece is right in concluding that the "only real option" for Democrats is to convert Republicans (and, presumably, independent voters) into Democrats. He sees years of hard labor before this can be accomplished. I am more optimistic. I think that the lethal Republican combination of hubris and incompetence will expedite matters, but only if the Democrats are prepared to step into the breach. First, hubris. George Bush the Younger, perhaps in conscious or unconscious reaction to his father, does not dismiss “the vision thing.” He believes that the Almighty summoned him to high office, and he cherishes visions. Having won the popular vote in...