Can't switch to virtual console anymore

[p@dirac.org (Peter Jay Salzman)]

Dear all,

I can't switch to a virtual console any longer.  I'm fairly sure whatever
happened must have happened during my last "aptitude upgrade", because I
switch to VC's very very often.  Datapoints:

0. This is a Debian/testing machine.

1. My XF86Config does not contain the DontVTSwitch option.

2. On control-alt-F1, xev reports:

   KeyPress event, serial 30, synthetic NO, window 0x1200001,
       root 0x40, subw 0x1200002, time 417047, (47,38), root:(1117,396),
       state 0x0, keycode 37 (keysym 0xffe3, Control_L), same_screen YES,
       XLookupString gives 0 bytes: 
       XmbLookupString gives 0 bytes: 
       XFilterEvent returns: False

   KeyPress event, serial 30, synthetic NO, window 0x1200001,
       root 0x40, subw 0x1200002, time 417495, (47,38), root:(1117,396),
       state 0x4, keycode 64 (keysym 0xffe9, Alt_L), same_screen YES,
       XLookupString gives 0 bytes: 
       XmbLookupString gives 0 bytes: 
       XFilterEvent returns: False

   KeyPress event, serial 30, synthetic NO, window 0x1200001,
       root 0x40, subw 0x1200002, time 417935, (47,38), root:(1117,396),
       state 0xc, keycode 67 (keysym 0xffbe, F1), same_screen YES,
       XLookupString gives 0 bytes: 
       XmbLookupString gives 0 bytes: 
       XFilterEvent returns: False


3. Once I kill X, I can switch consoles using the familiar alt-[1-9].

4. There's no output from xinit/startx that I don't recognize as already
   being there (for example, I've seen the message:

      Could not init font path element /usr/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo,
      removing from list!

   for at least a year.)

5. When I hit contol-alt-F1 when a vim instance has focus, I see "7P".


I will go nuts without my consoles.  Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Pete