It has been a year since I started blogging for Tikkun Daily, covering the Christian Right beat and other issues related to ideology. I remember my first post, which called for an end to toxic discourse, in the wake of the Gabrielle Giffords shooting and Sarah Palin’s shameless commentary before and after.

I am often very pessimistic about politics and the future of our society, but in reflecting on the past year, I realized that there are a lot of positive signs. Below is a list of the top ten that arise from my Tikkun Daily beat.

1. The irrelevance of Sarah Palin

I never thought this day would come, but it seems we are finally rid of the woman who introduced the term “death panels” into the health care debate. I hope we can make it through the election season without any more of her inflammatory grandstanding.

2. The early peak of Michelle Bachmann

Although a Bachmann nomination would have at least made gender history, I think we are all better off with her marginalization. While I respect her willingness to stick to her principles, that does not make up for the fact that her principles are unacceptable as a basis for public policy.

3. Rick Perry’s “blaze of glory”

Fortunately for the country, Republican voters only liked Rick Perry until they got to know him.

4. Herman Cain finally ending the madness

It’s too bad that Cain’s absurd 9-9-9 plan, lack of political experience, and ignorance of world events were not disqualifying. It is also too bad that his repeated acts of sexual harassment were not enough to end his candidacy. And while some progressives may find it problematic that it was a consensual relationship with a woman not his wife that finally did him in, personally I have no problem with that. I am sick of overlooking personal immorality in our elected officials. Personal integrity matters.

5. The recent decline of Newt Gingrich

Speaking of immorality – both personal and professional in this case – it is gratifying to know that the megalomaniac who goes by the name Newt Gingrich will not be rewarded with the Republican nomination after all his bad behavior and bad ideas. While conservative Christians believe in forgiveness, they are not gullible enough to think he has changed.

6. Santorum’s failure to rise

We should all rejoice that the man who denies the existence of a constitutional right to privacy and compares homosexuality to bestiality and pedophilia will not have a chance to become President of the United States.

7. The coming demise of the Christian Right

While the Christian Right’s success in getting its people in power means that its ideological agenda is still very much a threat, I believe the movement is on the decline for three reasons. First, look at who they are putting forward for President. Second, they are losing the anti-gay battle, especially with the young. Third, while they may make progress on the anti-abortion front, they will never be able to restore the ideological dominance of patriarchy.

8. The disappearance of the Tea Party

Where are they? They got their candidates elected in 2010 and then disappeared. Perhaps they really were just Astroturf after all. I guess we will see.

9. Obama finally moving to the left

After an extremely disappointing performance by President Obama over the course of at least the past two years, it seems our leader is finally inching to the left – or at least left of center. We need to keep his feet to the fire.

10. The Occupy Movement!!

Finally, the very best thing that has emerged during 2011 is the Occupy Movement. While the movement is still in flux, let’s hope it’s the beginning of some very positive changes in our society – a new vision and the people to make it happen.