In the world of politics this is called a problem you want to have.

If there’s a civil war in the Republicans, it won’t matter what the Democrats do over the next two years.

Here’s seats I think the Democrats might lose…

Byron Dorgan of North Dakota, especially if he retires.

Hmmm… I think that’s it, but I’m certainly willing to listen to reasoned debate over other seats.

Here’s seats I think the Republicans might lose…

Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, especially if Palin decides to take her on as a step to the President in 2012. Regardless, Murkowski barely won last time.

John McCain of Arizona – He might lose the state in the presidential race, which is a terrible sign. Also, early polling has him behind potential Democratic candidate.

Mel Martinez of Florida – May face serious primary challenge. If he loses, the state will be a toss-up. Even if he wins, he could come out of the primary bruised enough to lose.

Chuck Grassley of Iowa – May retire. Even if he doesn’t, the state is turning blue.

Jim Bunning of Kentucky – Very unpopular, but a red state. Could lose a primary and that might be the best news for the Republicans here.

David Vitter of Louisiana – Likes to wear diapers and solicits prostitutes. But he’s also a ‘Family Values’ Republican, so that might not matter.

Kit Bond of Missouri – early polling shows she is vulnerable, and Democrats have made gains in the last six years.

Judd Gregg of New Hampshire – Popular, but a blue state. Could fall like Lincoln did in Rhodes Island in 2006. Or they could convince him to switch sides.

Richard Burr of North Carolina – Underperformed Bush in 2004, while North Carolina has become more blue since then

George Voinovich of Ohio – Tainted by scandal. Ohio more blue than last time he ran.

Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania – Retirement. Hell, he could switch sides before he goes.

…

So that’s one Democratic Senate seat that is vulnerable, and eleven Republicans. Perhaps I’m blinded by my bias, and I’m willing to listen to other opinions, but I don’t see where the Republicans could make serious gains.

They’d better be careful though. Really easy to mess up when you control everything. The lack of a respectable opposition can make one lazy.

For the sake of discussion:

2010 — 19 Republicans up for election and 15 democrats. Sam Brownback is retiring and Chris Dodd might.

Meanwhile, Specter and Gregg will have no choice but to play nice in their heavily-Dem environment, Snowe and Collins were never right-wing to begin with, and John McCain will probably retire so he doesn’t have to be humiliated by Gov. Napolitano.

Democrats lost eight senate seats in 1994, dipshit. Which ones you planning on taking in 2010 from the Democrats? I’m waiting…

Uh … what? Republican hopes for 2010 rest entirely in Democratic hands (since everything else will be in their hands too [according to polls FWIW]). If Dems f*** it up, it won’t matter what the Republicans do. It’ll be 1994 all over again.

Just sayin’.

Yup, just like they did in 2006 after which the Dem majority stood up to Bush and stopped telecom immunity and funding the war and made sure impeachment didn’t get swept off the table and… um…

Oh, never mind.