The Republican Party did everything it could since 1994 to self-destruct. They succeeded 7 November 2006. Some polls indicate that greater than 70% of Americans asked anticipate great, positive change ahead under the Democrats.
The tragic flaw in the November 2006 election came from Americans voting the Democrats a blank check. Democrats offered platitudes, when they offered anything. Americans voted Democrats in, not because they had principles, strategies, and tactics good for America. No, they voted in Democrats because they were NOT Republicans. While it is easy to understand the spirit behind the voting, it is impossible to understand the logic. This was like hiring a contractor to renovate your home and paying him IN FULL, IN ADVANCE. With the contractor situation, it is obvious that a fool and his money are soon parted. With the flood of Democrats in the House and Senate, given a blank check, we face great danger.
Of course, the choices stank: Republican versus Democrat. This reminds us of the old game that Trumble and Core used to play on WMAL radio many years ago, called "cross-country bus trip." The question was, whom would you select as a seat mate for a (transcontinental) cross-country bus trip? Then they would offer two terrible choices. E.g., Asad of Syria or Ahmadinejad of Iran.
The real solution lies in the formation of a true American political party based on rational principles. Since that won't happen any time soon, maybe we can get a glimpse of what is in store for us from the remarks of the new Speaker of the House today.