The 60th Vote

If you are a panic stricken Democrats ready to commit hara kiri because the magic 60^th vote was lost in Masachusetts, it might be useful to remember that before the 2008 election the notion that the Dems would come close to a 60-40 majority in the Senate in the foreseeable future was a pipe dream.

Every close contest, and there were several, had to be won by a Democrat.

Arlen Spector needed to change parties.

Al Franken needed to win at the polls and in the courts.

I remember thinking on election night that 56 or 57 would be a landslide. How quickly we forget.

So pick yourself up. Dust yourself off. And get to work.