[Riot]

If you really believe that the election results were simply about throwing out Blue dogs I just dont have much else to say because you wont get it anyway.

Sigh. Lissen up - I didn't say the election was about throwing out blue dogs. I said that ended up being the result, though.

The more progressive elements of the Dems are pretty happy that what is left for the Dems is the most progressive wing of the party.

Pelosi maintaining leadership is a great thing for the GOP regardless of how you spin it.

"Spin it"? You're the one that brought it up. Did you not want other posters to discuss it?

You said, "The most unpopular politician in America gets reelected to position of power by the party and vows to block compromise?"

First, Pelosi has measurably been one of the most effective Speakers of the House - ever. The GOP didn't want to put Obama's face in their ads (his personal popularity remained higher than the Dems or the GOP) so they made their campaign anti-Pelosi. Smart for the GOP, of course.

But the vast "unpopularity" you perceive of Pelosi is certainly one-sided as to what what the GOP thinks.

Proven by that she readily held on to her leadership position, in spite of losses in the House. She's well-respected, effective and popular within her own party.

Secondly, yes, my entire post was about Pelosi (and Reid) now being more willing to not compromise a bit with the GOP, in response to what their base has been screaming for, for the past two years.

And for someone who has written a 100 threads about the GOP being the "party of no" because their supposed lack of compromise on issues, it is interesting that the Dems becoming exactly what you complained about seems to elude you as well

"Elude" me? There can hardly be "elusion" when I just spent an entire post talking about it.

There is no "supposed" lack of compromise by the GOP on the issues during the last two years, that's simple measurable fact. They have fillibustered and blocked virtually everything in the Senate.

Over 400 bills passed from the House, and are waiting for the Senate to act. It has been one of the most unproductive two years in the Senate ever measured.

The GOP have been whining for two years that Obama was a dictator, while they have blocked everything themselves - has that hasn't seemed to get them anywhere in the public popularity polls.

The GOP couldn't win several Senate seats they should have, they couldn't even defeat Harry Reid!

The GOP has been infused with more polarizing social elements of their party at the novice level (evangelicals, Tea Bags, Libertarians, etc). That is already splitting the GOP caucus. They are working hard to iron that out and appear a cohesive group. It appears they already have gotten some of the newbies in line.

The Dems are left with the more progressive of their party in power, led by two very progressive, experienced leaders. The Dems are shifting left, away from the President, in response to what their base is saying about the 2008 election and what has happened since.

It will be an interesting two years. I predict the Dem base will emerge happier than the GOP base ** - but we'll see!

(**the GOP taking up social issues, if forced to by the newbies - trying to outlaw abortion, repeal stem cell research, creationism in schools, attack the President w/impeachment investigations, etc. - would be the death of the GOP in the next election. It's the economy, stupid. The GOP election game plan of trickle down economics: cutting taxes, freeze spending - simply doesn't work. We just lost 700,000 jobs with that the last months of Bush. They have to come up with more than just those platitudes. If Pelosi & Reid does stand tall against Obama and blocks tax cut extensions to the wealthy by allowing the Bush cuts to expire, but she gets a new middle-class only cut passed in the lame duck - that's huge win for the Dems)