Per David Frum: The GOP will stop worrying about the deficit amid their rush to pay off their pals.
Daily Kos: It won't happen because we'll all vote and prevail.
Howard Kurtz: Twice the investigative fun! [That should help Hillary.]
Breitbart: Tea party will own the agenda. [That should help Hillary.]
Fiscal Times: No, moderate GOP senators will own the agenda (that is, what goes for moderate these days).
Norm Ornstein: Fights between Tea Party, leadership, and moderate GOP will prevent big reform proposals. Small bills will punish Dem constituencies to fund feel-good white-bread programs like pediatric medical research. Also, another vote for Twice The Investigative Fun!
So, what do I think? Well, I have to go with the past being indicative of the future. Throughout 2013, the GOP wasn't able to get it together. So I think skirmishes will continue within the party. Various pols will present their proposals and grandstand against rivals within the party. And yes, committee chairmen will run their grandiose investigations of various molehills.
I do have one caveat. If the leadership can unite the GOP during this year's campaign and they win some extra seats because of it, they may be able to keep that united front during 2015 and 2016. That's their best hope for capturing the presidency in 2016. But there are a lot of egos and a lot of pent up anger in the GOP, so I strongly doubt it will happen.
Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball
Image: centerforpolitics.org
Extras. Context and another map. My detailed look at the trends in party affiliation and the Senate.
