Republicans are screwed

[Mjh]

I dont think so. The GOP swept the House, just as predicted. The Democrats were slaughtered in the rustbelt, and all across the south. Erasing all your gains in red territory from 2006 and 2008.

However, the most underreported story of the night are the huge Republican gains at the state level, a whole swathe of state legislative houses have flipped to the Republican Party. That will come in handy later on when the districts are redrawn. Pennsylvania is a case in point.

This may of course just be a blipp on the road to “Progressive America”, but I for one wouldn’t call 2012 for the Democrats just yet.

Regarding the Senate.
The results in the US Senate were of course somewhat dissapointing, but hopefully the GOP (and maybe even the Tea Party) have learned a lesson that may come in handy in 2012. If they want to primary Republican incumbents and establishments candidates they better put up stronger candidates than washed-up losers like Christine O’Donnell and Sharron Angle.

[Mjh]

Four of those seats Republicans should have had no problem winning in this enviorment. So the Republicans should be worried about the Tea Party in the future. If the Tea Party survives and continues to primary out sane Republicans with loonys that could create a real problem for them.

My sentiments exactly.

This is what really scares me.

http://www.redstate.com/erick/2010/11/03/potential-tea-party-targets-for-2012/

2012 have the potential to be a great year for the Republicans in the Senate. However, the likes of Erik Erickson, Sarah Palin and Jim DeMint puts that on the line if they primary Scott Brown and Olympia Snowe.

[Mjh]

However, the most underreported story of the night are the huge Republican gains at the state level, a whole swathe of state legislative houses have flipped to the Republican Party. That will come in handy later on when the districts are redrawn. Pennsylvania is a case in point.

Yes and no. It's true, and it does help the Republicans. But they were in such good shape in 2002 that, at best, it can only preserve the advantage they held in drawing maps then instead of creating a new one. That will come in handy in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan, not to mention southern states, but ultimately they have a very favorable national map to begin with so they need to continue to win elections on their own merit.

A lot of Republican seats they won yesterday are simply going to take the place of Democratic seats that would have been drawn away in redistricting. Ohio Rs are going to have to sacrifice one R for sure and will have a difficult time making that second set lost a D, although they can try. Tennessee and Indiana just banked the gains they would have made next time anyway. Pennsylvania is a good point, they can still draw PA-12 out of existence and cause a Democratic loss, and while they have a high-water mark in the east, they will be able to do what they can to try to preserve their holdings.

I think you mostly are right. But did the GOP do as well at the state level in 2000 as they did yesterday
I wonder because I seem to remember that the Congressional Republicans didn't do nearly as well as expected.