I agree that the Republicans feel completely defeated at this point, but to think that they will just roll over is very naive of my good friend and most excellent blogger Kevin Drum.

They won't be willing to say this during a presidential campaign, but there are at least half a dozen smart Republican senators who understand this and don't really want to go down with the ship. So even if Democrats don't win a filibuster-proof majority in November — as they almost certainly won't — it's likely that there will still be enough survival-inspired GOP senators around to give Barack Obama the votes he needs to make a difference. If that's the case, and if Obama has the courage of his convictions, his first two years could be historic.

This election is going to be nasty and the Republican 527's will have a field day come November which is why I think it was a big mistake for Obama to cut funding to David Brock's Progressive Media group. The two things Conservatives are very good at are personal political attacks and obstructionism. And without a filibuster proof Congress they will do everything they can to block legislation and try to destroy the Democratic brand and regroup.

The truth is that they know the Republicans are very, very likely going to lose the presidency anyway. And they are fine with it. It brings them together. Here's old hand Richard Viguerie making his pitch for GOP to lose in 2006:

[Sometimes] a loss for the Republican Party is a gain for conservatives. Often, a little taste of liberal Democrats in power is enough to remind the voters what they don’t like about liberal Democrats and to focus the minds of Republicans on the principles that really matte...read on