By almost every relevant measurement, national polls indicate that Republicans are at least as bad off as Democrats were at this point in 1994, before suffering devastating midterm losses.

By an eight-point margin, voters are now more likely to call themselves Democrats than Republicans; there was no gap in self-identification a year ago.

They know they have horrible problems and they came up with the least risky move they could make.

It's too far out to extrapolate. But for now, House and Senate Republicans are pretty much joined at the hip with the president?. When he falls in the polls, it's not good for them.

Today, the playing field is tilted in favor of Democrats. It doesn't mean it will be tilted as much or even in the same direction next month, let alone a year from now, but that's where it is now.

I think people have a sense that right now Democrats are completely powerless in Washington, that they're just sort of bystanders. But there's a danger of Democrats' looking always like they are carping. It's important for them to articulate some kind of vision.