It was just yesterday that the P

On a presidential election night we get returns by precinct, county and state. But the numbers that really reveal trends are the returns by congressional district. It was just yesterday that the Presidential election results of 2004 by Congressional Districts were finally released. Those returns show 51 districts currently held by Democrats that were carried by Bush. On the other hand there were 18 districts held by Republicans that Kerry carried.

That says that in the next 10 years or so, those 51 Democratic Seats are apt to become Republican and the 18 Republican seats are apt to become Democratic. That is a net gain of 33 Republican seats in the house.

The current Republican lead is 15 seats. Add 33 to that and we have a 48 seat lead. That would make a house of 265 Republicans to 170 Democrats.

The senate will go the way of Presidential elections too. Bush won 30 states. It is difficult to see how the Democrats can win more than 23 states. That means in a few years it may be a 60 to 40 senate. It will not likely be less than a 55 to 45 situation. Knowing the situation what are RINO Republicans likely to do? Well if they go against the Republicans now, they may find themselves in a heap of trouble if the Republicans pick up 60 seats. Democrats tend to stay on the reservation because for many decades the party leadership had the power to severely punish those that failed to follow the leadership.

On the other hand Democrats know they are almost certain to be in the minority for a decade or two.

If a Senator knows he is going to be in the minority he has only one way to get the pork that will relect him. He has to make deals with the party in power. For years we were very unhappy with Republicans in the House and Senate. The constantly rolled over to go belly up to the Democrats.

But they had little choice. Our side tended to blame the people we had elected but for many in marginal districts their first object had to be to get re-elected That meant they had to play ball with Democrats.

The Democrats are just now coming to the conclusion that they will have to play ball with the Republicans or be on the outside looking in. Only the most secure Democrats in the most Democratic States can play hardball with the Republicans. The problem for Democrats is there are only about 36 Democrat Senators with really secure seats.

As time goes on it will be harder and harder for Democratic leaders to keep their troops on the reservation. They won't be able to get 40 to filibuster.

The Democrats are really in a losing situation in both houses of congress. Some Democrats will go belly up and refuse to filibuster or some Democrats will be in a heap of trouble.

The problem for about 10 democratic senators, is they can only keep their jobs by playing ball with the Republicans. Some will some won't. The ones that won't will fix it so Democrats lose more seats. If the Republicans change the rules there is not much the Democrats can do but regret it for a decade or two to come.

That is a terrible situation for a minority party. They will be in the situation where many Republicans were for years.. The only way to get stuff for their state, is to make personal friendships with Republicans.

What Reid, Kennedy, Pelosi, and Dean are doing is what a party does that is way behind and has no practical chance at success. They are trying low percentage of success desperation tactics. It has been nearly 75 years since the Republicans have been in this situation.

The Republicans are learning to be winners and the Democrats are learning to be losers.

Just sit back and enjoy the show. Sooner or later we will witness many Democrats mad as heck at all the DINOs who don't stay on the reservation.