Nobody really knows, but your servant has some thoughts. And given the performance of most of cable news and Sunday talk show performers, your servant' s thoughts are probably as valid  as any.

First off , it looks like the GOP has succeeded in bucking that ancient trend in American politics that says that the president's party usually loses seats in an off-year election. 

That's one idea tossed in the dustbin for the time being.   Most of the so-called experts in business of political prognosticating managed to prove themselves wrong last night.

Which shows the essential wisdom of the average voter, who won't be dictated to by experts who spend their lives,  telling a TV audience how he or she will vote   come election day.

Second, it looks like voter turnout is important. It's sort of obvious, but it looks like the Democrats never really thought about turnout. Result:  GOP pickup in House and Senate.  

So, is looks like President Bush will have a good chance of getting legislation he wants pushed through Congress and placed on his desk, in a form roughly equal to what he wants. Which translates into a permanent tax cut, a homeland security bill and more spending on military and defense.

Not to mention  further obstruction from the loyal opposition.

But regardless of the nature of the GOP majorities in Congress, the Republicans will not be able to push through legislation which is too radical , like anti-cloning or anti-abortion rights legislation. This is because many of the GOP candidates who won election did so by very close margins. Most of the GOP candidates can be classified as centrist or moderate. Which means no Newt Gingrich-style "Contract with America."-type programs put forth.

At least not any time soon.

The lesson for the Democrats is: simply to work harder.  Get out the vote.

Still, the way things turned out Tuesday night, it is going to be hard for any Democrat to put together a winning coalition in 2004. Bush has all the advantages.   

And what advantages! Even when he is not running, it looks like Mr Bush has coattails that work to attract voters and help  GOP candidates.

Of course, Bush has the trump-card of anti-terrorism . He also wears the cloak of leader of a wartime government. 

Bush and his partisans are being helped along by his performance on the war on terrorism, which at least some voters consider the most important issue in the county today.

What does it all mean? It means that we could be at the beginning of a GOP lock on Washington DC, which could last for generations. 

Mr Bush has already beat one tradition and picked up seats for his a party in an off year election. This will put the GOP in line for 2004 and make it much harder to the Democrats to gain any federal political office.

This race also shows that Bill Clinton's ability to get get out the vote for Democrats  is waning. 

It could be that he's running out of steam. 

Yesterday's results to not bode well for Sen. Hillary Clinton ambitions , either.

Fact is, the Democrats were pretty much blown out of the water last night.

Clearly the Democrats are in need of some hard thinking and internal self-criticism.

And they better get started on it noon.

2004 is coming 'round.

Punditwalla--