Republicans in a funk because of the defection of Arlen Specter should take heart from a lesson of history -- the last time either party had such a wide Senate margin was during the first two years of Jimmy Carter's term:
What history shows us is that a liberal, blame-America-first Democratic President, urged on by a liberal, blame-America-first Democratic Congress, is a prescription for political self-destruction. Leave Democrats to their own devices, and they will screw themselves politically, just when they are at the height of power.
I don't know. If a party has screwed up so badly that its best hope is that the other party will screw up even worse, that's a pretty desperate state of events. But if the Democrats do get Franken from Minnesota and end up with a filibuster-proof majority, whatever overreaching they do do, they will own, lock, stock and barrel. If the voters do see it as overreaching, they will vote to correct it, as they usually do.
Republicans won't come back unless they convince voters they have good ideas. Freed of the ability to play parliamentary-maneuvering games, maybe they can concentrate more on that.
Now, all they need are some good ideas.
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If being "freed of the ability to play parliamentary-maneuvering games" improves the odds for civilized debate on constructive ideas and reformed governance, then maybe it's time to consider pulling the plug on parties altogether.
My personal thoughts are that if the electorate doesn't correct it by 2010 they will by 2014. If they do correct it in 2010 or 2012 more toward 2010 be prepared for a drastic shift as a lot of people are still not willing to give Republicans another chance just yet and they will punish some Democrats just out of the principle of self correction. It could very likely open up a third party option with a five way split party result, D, R, and L, G, and C between both houses.
This is my prediction for the House when it does happen
45% Democrat, 30% Republican, 7.5% Green or Other, 7.5% Constitution or Other, and 10% Libertarian. Keep in mind that I am the Secretary for the local LP so I'm biased in some regard.
Because the Senate splits its elections by a third it is harder to predict in most states because both Senators are not usually up at the same time so there is more fluidity based on circumstances and stability based on popularity of the incumbent....but in our case both Lugar and Bayh are going to be in for a hard fight next year. I wouldnt be surprised if Lugar retires in 2010.