So Al Franken’s going to be seated.  Norm Coleman only managed to deprive Minnesota of a second senator for 1/12 of a senator’s term.  Of course, did anybody think to ask Harry Reid?  I mean, he just might decide to seat Coleman anyway.  Did anybody check to make sure that Harry Reid’s glands weren’t releasing that pheromone of extreme cowardice that sends the Republicans into their usual frenzy while gassing other Democrats into a limpid stupor?

While it’s quite nice that there are now 60 Democrats in the caucus, we always have to keep in mind that the Democrats are the Muppets and do a lot to lengthen ever further the long, long arc of history’s inexorable progressive trajectory.  In other words, watch for Mary Landrieu and Ben Nelson and well-behaved-lately-but-the-jury’s-still-out Joe Lieberman (update: jury in; verdict guilty) to become more cantankerous.  To say nothing of Bayh, Feinstein, Specter, etc.

Nothing makes you feel powerful like a) sticking your thumb in progressivism’s eye and b) having the Teevee media effortlessly translate that bloodless and unprincipled stance into their holy grail, bipartisanship.  40 Republicans are approximately as powerful as 60 Democrats.

When you add Republicans, the party grows more powerful.  When you add Democrats up to and possibly just over the threshold of 60, the party grows weaker.  These are like laws of thermodynamics.  Democrats would need at least 66 senators to become a moderately liberal chamber.

But this is obviously good news on its face.  I wonder how Bill O’Reilly feels that Al Franken is finally going to become a senator.  Somewhat grim, I’d think.