My friend Kris told me today that she and her sorority sisters, "a smart bunch of women" had concluded that next January a Republican would be in the White House. The reason? US voters are still not ready to elect either a black man or a white woman to the nation's highest office.

I really hope she's wrong. Not because I'm hugely enthusiastic about Hillary. Nor because I think Barack has the neccesary experience.

But this current Congress can't get anything done, because each time the Democrats offer a bill, the Republican's threaten a filibuster. Which, naturally, is the very height of hypocrisy, considering that just a few years ago the same cast of characters said they wished to get rid of the filibuster.

So-no energy bill, when our country reels from the forces of climate change. Not enough help for those facing foreclosure-just enough to help banks regain some of the dollars they lost. No effective curb on the imperial President and his very personal war.

We don't need barbarians at the gates, when we have the US Congress.