Ukraine's post-revolutionary about-face

It wasn't so long ago that pro-West reformer Viktor Yushchenko was the toast of Kiev, at least among the democratic masses.

Well, how far the mighty have fallen! Last September, Yushchenko was brought low by internal divisions and allegations of corruption. And in this weekend's parliamentary elections, according to the BBC, "he has been beaten into third place by the pro-Russian Viktor Yanukovych and his former Orange Revolution ally Yulia Tymoshenko".

Defeat from within and without.

Yushchenko could still secure a parliamentary majority if he's able to form an alliance with Tymoshenko, who "has said that as part of any agreement she must be made the prime minister" and "a controversial gas deal Ukraine signed with Russia" must be cancelled. Yushchenko may not like either proposal, but he has "few options" left.

How fickle democracy can be.