WASHINGTON -- What a year! When 2005 began, there was so much hope and optimism in Washington, even among us Democrats.

President George W. Bush had come back to town with a bag of political capital that he planned to spend doing good things for America and the world. His party had taken control of both houses of Congress, and we all believed that the year would see the adoption of the Bush political agenda: more tax cuts, Social Security reform, a new health-care program, and other attractive initiatives.

The president was popular. Sixty-plus percent of Americans applauded the way he was doing his job and almost 100 percent hoped that he would succeed.