I am heartened by this New York Times story. As we have found out, often painfully, Republicans can't govern. Yet, Democrats, at least up until this past cycle, had been having an equally tough time winning since the 90s ended.

So the fact that Democrats are shoring up potentially vulnerable House members for 2008 before they are even sworn in this year, by giving them good committee assigments and the like, is good news that Dems are finally understanding how this game is played.

I don't believe that old saying "good policy makes good politics" always to be true (sadly, see segregation in the 1960s, for example), but it certainly can be. And it should be, in the case of furthering progressive interests by passing meaningful legislation, but also making sure our members continue to hold their seats.