why is xdm ignoring the keyboard?

[Bob Billson <bob@goleader.com>]

I'm puzzling over an odd problem.  I can run X just fine when I log in as a
normal user and run startx.  However, if I let Debian (potato) boot so xdm
is started when the system boots, I can't log in at all.  In fact, xdm seems
totally hosed.  It won't respond to any keyboard input.  The system, itself,
still appears to be functioning.  cron still is running its jobs.  The mouse
still moves cursor around.

Can someone clue me in what I need to change to get xdm to work properly?
Thanks for the help.

            bob
-- 
        bob billson       email: bob@goleader.com       ham: kc2wz
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