What this victory for the Democrats means.

John Aravosis:
" I've gotten a few emails from some readers who think that, because some conservative Dems were elected along with liberal Dems, perhaps this victory wasn't worth winning. Well, let me tell you what this victory now means:

1. It's much harder, if not impossible, for Republicans to further repeal habeas corpus and do other nasty things like even bring up for a vote federal constitutional amendments taking away the rights of entire classes of citizens. The Democrats now control what comes to the floor of the House and Senate - and what doesn't. That's the power to control the agenda. That's power we haven't had for 12 years.

2. The Democrats now have a national platform to criticize Republican excess and incompetence, and to promote their ideas and agenda and key players. We didn't have that in the minority. Now we do.

3. Subpoenas, baby. Subpoenas.

4. Passage of the 9/11 Commission recommendations, increase in the minimum wage, no privatization of social security, and so much more.

5. The Democratic majority has to approve of Bush's far-right, Constitution-hating, theocracy-loving Supreme Court nominations.

There's more. Much more. So don't even dare tell me that this victory wasn't worth winning. We just got our country back, and proved to an entire generation, and the world, that the American dream is still alive."