I am an infrequent diarist and mostly prefer to lurk. However, as it now seems that we are poised to gain significantly more seats in the House and the Senate, I am again given to idle daydreaming about who among the Republican survivors will switch party allegiance first.
More below the fold . . .
Will Shelby of Alabama have the nerve to re-rat? Will Olympia Snowe wend her way across the aisle? Who in the House will walk away from his/her onerous Republican mortgage and set up housekeeping with a more attractive Democratic housemate? If Shays survives will he finally work up the courage to say goodbye to the decimated Connecticut Republican Party? Oh my, these thoughts are delicious! I think the possibilities are best in the Northeast and upper Midwest corridors and the Pacific Coast districts.
I remember my irritation at Ben Nighthorse Campbell and Shelby when they saw greener pastures in 1994 and have never forgiven them. And, while I welcome any Republican who sees the light and leaves the dark side, there is still a part of me that has some lingering doubts about their motives.
I also wonder about the more polarized Congress and wonder if this election will make the remaining Republicans more wingnutty than in the past. As the districts are drawn now they face two equally distasteful choices: remain in a powerless minority or jump ship and face the wrath of their right-wing constituents who will vote them out of office for their treasonous behavior. All of this should make for interesting times in 2010 when it comes time to redraw the district maps.