With action on Iraq and major domestic initiatives such as immigration stalled, Congressional Dems have lost the sense of approval and optimism that greeted them in January. The gap in public approval, according to a recent Pew poll, has reached 15 percentage points. Action on climate change and stem cell research were also part of the Dems’ promised package of policies to put in place this year. Unfortunately, it looks like the juggernaut issues of Iraq, immigration, the 2008 Horse Race, and a growing number of oversight investigations will derail any meaningful science policy until 2009.