It was a dramatic end to a troublesome session: Ted Stevens (R-Alaska)--President Pro Tempore of the Senate, third in line to the presidency, "dean" of the Senate--wearing his talismanic "Incredible Hulk" tie--stood weeping in the well of the Chamber, disgraced and humiliated on the defeat of the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) drilling. At the back of the Chamber, four senior Stevens staffers also fought tears, as did his colleague, Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska).

It was a sad end to a congressional session that was painted by the press as a defeat for President George W. Bush, a defeat for Senate Majority Leader and presidential aspirant Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), and a defeat for congressional Republicans in general.

"Achievements" of the First Session

The session had never produced a cascade of GOP victories, even when things appeared to be going better than they did at the end. But there was certainly a point, earlier in the session, when things seemed to be going "okay" . . .

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