República Deportiva, the Sunday sports round-up on Univision, ran a poll today asking viewers to weigh in on the Roger Clemens steroids controversy. The poll asked "Who do you believe"? The choices were a) Brian McNemy, b) Roger Clemens, c) they're both lying or d) I don't care, I'm worried about Hillary.

Under 20% of the sports show viewers voted for a), ditto for b). But 43%, the largest group, voted for d) I don't care, I'm worried about Hillary.

FLASHBACK: It's interesting to read this old transcript from MSNBC's Tucker Carlson show from a year ago devoted to the upcoming election. Leslie Sanchez, Republican strategist, mentions Hillary Clinton's "la fria problem" in passing. (Mrs. Clinton is perceived, not just among Hispanics, to have all the personal warmth of an iceberg). Nevertheless, Hillary was seen then as the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party and the can't lose candidate. Democrats were to benefit from "the colossal mess" that was Iraq, (reiterated repeatedly by Tucker Carlson and disagreed with by none). The consensus of those convened for the program was that the Democrat front runners of the laundry list of Democratic candidates would boil down to Mrs. Clinton, Misters Obama and Edwards. They have been proven right, at least on Democratic front runners.

The discussion turned to Barack Obama's attempts to quit smoking. Mr. Carlson suggests problems for same when his candidacy was scrutinized, notably his membership in his "African values" church. No Republican front runners were mentioned. Republicans were perceived to be in disarray. Republicans were the ones with the electability problem because of several issues, most notably Iraq. But Ms. Sanchez could see a good outcome for the Republicans if they could simply find and unite behind a strong candidate. No possible candidate was suggested.
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In one short year Iraq has fallen off both the front pages and the stump. The Surge has been debated, decried, and deployed. The Democratic Congressional leadership, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Harry Reid, in tandem and separately, have declared the war in Iraq lost and a hopeless failure. They continue to characterize the surge as a failure. But one year on everyone except the hopelessly uninformed or the ruthless demagogue admits the surge succeeded beyond anyone's imagining. Al Qaeda in Iraq is all but vanquished. Most of the native born, non-Saddamist insurgency has switched sides. Hearts and minds are being won, as evidenced by the burgeoning CLC.

Some of the men and women who helped execute the surge strategy to success have already returned home from Iraq. Their number include a young Marine rumored to have spoken to members of Congress last week behind closed doors about details of the surge's success. That young Marine was the 19 year old son of presumptive Republican nominee John McCain.

What a difference a year can make.