IF the DEMS can capture the House, it represents a remarkable return

to power from the debacle of 1994.

It is always worth noting that the long-time DEM majority in the House prior to 1994 was a difficult, uneasy, conflicted and often unproductive alliance between moderate/progressive, socially-conscious DEMS (primarily from the NE, Midwest, and West) with very conservative, racist, pro-military, Old South Dems. The cultural movement of the Old South into the GOP camp was catalyzed by the Civil Rights Movement, George Wallace, and Nixon's Southern Strategy and culminated in the realignment of 1994.

That the Democratic Party seems close to having recovered from this devastating realignment in a short 12 years and may soon have a majority that speaks with a more unified, progressive voice than the old "Roosevelt Alliance" majority is a real achievement.

Hopefully we break well past 30 or more seats. Then we can work to build a more stable governing majority. Bush will block everything. Expect draconian budgets with humongous increases in Defense. Expect the worst. This will be a fucking dogfight, and if we slip in with a 220 majority and Bush doesn't bomb Iran to create chaos and steal back a seat or two all bets are off.

I think a lot of people don't realize that while the dems held the house for I believe 50 of 52 years, it was not a liberal majority, except on economic issues. The southern dems were conservative in every aspect except fiscal/economic issues, like you said.

And during that time, much good legislation was passed.

Civil rights, medicare, medicaid. Although, they were still very pro-war.

At the same time that all of what you said is happening, Democrats have gained ground in suburbs, especially in the North. Look at the campaigns of Democrats in suburban districts surrounding Chicago, Philly, the Twin Cities and the Tri-State Area held by Republicans.