He would be sure to get all 49 Republican votes and his own vote - for a total of 50 (assuming the Republicans end with just 49 - which is likely). The amazing thing about that would be that Lieberman could dole out committee chairmanships as he saw fit. He could raise issues and votes as he saw fit and never be beholden to a party.  It would require the support of only one Democrat.  Maybe it would come from Jim Webb in Virginia, the former Republican and Reagan administration official.

Or would 50 votes plus Cheney's tie-breaker be enough?

Oh, man would some Democrats who came into Connecticut start to sweat.

That would be interesting.

sharp

Republican retirements.

When a committee chairman gives up his gavel and becomes a ranking member, he often becomes a retiring member.  Some weak Republican hands were wiped out today - including DeWine, Chafee and Burns.  There were also a couple of pretty strong hands taken out in Santorum and Allen.  Jim Talent, like Burns, Chafee and DeWine, never had a strong position. 

But will Trent Lott and other long-time Republican Senators choose to take the smaller office, lesser staff and lesser role?  Will they want to work even harder for each campaign contribution?  And be snubbed by the media who are looking for decision makers?

My guess is that we'll get quite a few old Republican hands who will call it a career.

And a new generation is born.

sharp

The late trends were a mirage as voters shifted power to the Democrats in almost every state coast to coast. The Democrats were far more successful than I imagined in making this election a referendum on Bush and the war in Iraq. Kerry was of no effect at all.

At this late hour, it looks likely that they will control both houses of Congress and the majority of governorships.

The question is clearly, now what?

It's the catch-22 of political leadership.  They won't be able to execute a liberal agenda and maintain majorities - particularly with so many new conservative Democrats on board.  But then why win elections at all if you're not going to see your vision enacted? 

And all of this before the backdrop of intense criticism of budget details, corrupt members, renegade members (to the right and left) and a public who has given power but no mandate.  All of these things the Republicans managed through for the first six years of the Bush administration, until the unpopular war and the unpopular President brought them down.  Now the Democrats will need to shift from back-bench accusers to receivers of criticism.

We might find a new powerful set of leaders among the Democrats or we might see a two-year blip on the political stage.

Politics is never dull.

sharp

We know this much.  The next Congress will be rid of numerous criminals.  The Republican leadership had become corrupt in many places and many individuals are being fired by the voters.  Some Democrats have been exposed, but haven't yet been dealt with.  Nonetheless, for each corrupt individual who leaves, America gains.  There will also be some new crooks, to be sure, but hopefully the weeds in the seeds will be few and easily noticed.

There is always hope with an election - whichever party wins, except for the most tarnished and partisan observer.  And this one will be no different.  There are some who will add a unique point of view, while others will be part of the system and devolve into partisan politics.

For today's winners I'll say a prayer that I will repeat many times during their term in office.  That they will rise above the frey and lead with passion and with integrity.  And that if they fall they will be exposed, so that America can do better.

And we will.

sharp

...I saw a seemingly dejected Senator Charles Schumer tonight on television.  He should be jubilant right now.  Due to his (quite brilliant) political leadership, his party seems to be on the verge of taking control of the U.S. Senate.  And yet, he's not.

To paraphrase, he said something like: I never said we would take control of the Senate.  That's a herculean task.  We'd have to win 5 of the 6 Republican seats and hold all of ours.

He's right, of course.  But it looked quite possible only a week or two ago.

But now I wonder if he's seeing polls that we're not (he most assuredly is) that tell him they're losing all of the close races.  TN, VA, RI, MT, MO.  And I wonder if they're actually going to lose Maryland (I'm leaning that way now).  That would leave Democrats gaining only one seat in the Senate.

Victory would feel like utter defeat.  And we'd all be left to wonder why, in this climate, the Senate could barely be moved.

sharp