Now that Obama has coattails, the Senate races are looking more interesting. At this time, the Dems have a 16% chance of controlling a filibuster-proof 60 seats, and that number is growing.
I'm of two minds on this. On the one hand, I desperately want Republicans to lose, and lose bad. I'd like to beat them into the ground with a stick. Neocons deserve it for what they've done to this country and the future of libertarian and non-fundamental conservatism. Demographically the country is moving democratic (younger, larger minorities, and more educated). Instead of embracing this and moving toward the center, Republicans are stubbornly insisting on remaining the party that embraces evangelical fundamentalism and white male supremacy. They were already well on their way to becoming the permanent minority party for a generation, and their cynical and identity-embrace of Palin has exacerbated this. Informed women feel insulted at being expected to vote for her with no regard for Palin's actual capabilities, just because she's a woman!
On the other hand, absolute power corrupts absolutely. As annoying as filibuster showdowns can be, they are a very useful check on majority rule, which can be a problem in any democracy but especially those that do not use a parliamentary system.
I suppose my ideal scenario would be for Democrats to barely reach 60 this election cycle and lose it in 2010, but I'm guessing the odds of that are pretty long.
It's more likely they'll fall just shy of 60 this time around and have a good chance of attaining it in 2010, assuming an Obama presidency goes well.
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