"You suggested that despite being outvoted, Democrats can still reach for the mic in public--until recently there was such a paralyzing fear of being branded unpatriotic by the Bush folks and right-wing groups that many democrats, I am ashamed to say, kept their opinions to themselves. This is beginning to change."

My suggestion is even more simple. Despite the nominal majority Republicans have over the Senate, the Democrats have been perfectly comfortable using the rules to control or at least constrain the agenda there. And I didn't notice Democratic members of the 9/11 Commission and members of either House of Congress acting in the least shy about pointing fingers or at least implying blame during the 9/11 hearings. Nothing's really changed. Both sides do the political calculation before they say anything. There's no reason not to deny this event, and deny it most publically if it's not true.