"What help has Bush had in the last 2 years? I never noticed much."
Alito, Roberts on the USSC for one. Energy bill, bankruptcy reform, military funding (yes, the Dems will block even that!), the bill on military tribunals, Patriot Act renewal (yes, the Dems tried to kill even that!!!), the funding of the border security fence (Dems hated that), etc.
Drilling in ANWR and offshore (much needed but hated by eco-extremists),
That just scratches the surface ..
There is a list of GOP accomplishments that has been posted for the education of freepers who bought the lie that GOP Congress hasnt done much ..
"The best he has had, and the best he can do for the next two years, is to have Committee chairmen who will pass his bills and his nominees out of committee for floor votes. That requires a GOP majority in both Houses - even if it's just one vote."
John Bolton and many of the bottled up judicial nominees is a good example of why a *bare* majority is *NOT* enough. 51-50 means that every single time a RINO wets his pants we cant go forward. With 55 votes, Frist was able to get Alito and Roberts and many "controversial" lower court nominees through without a filibuster.
I'm afraid that 51 senators will be gridlock at best and RINO+Dem rule at worst.
You're right that a bare majority isn't enough. But the few successes that you cited are because they do have a bare majority.
A bare majority of the GOP beats a bare majority of Dems any day.