There are a lot of congenital Democrats who are more conservative than most Freepers, but they've never voted for a Republican in their lives. That's about to change. Once those people realize they are more at home as Republicans, it will not be easy for Democrats to win them back.
They did this time.
My grandfather was big-time in local Democratic politics in CT. I recently spoke to my Uncle about the hijacking of the Democratic Party by the left.
He said that his father [my grandfather] had told him that the Democratic Party [nationally] had come perilously close to being hijacked by the Socialists and Communists in the late 1930's and 1940's.
However, they were ultimately rejected and pretty much purged from the Party from the 1950's onward ...
My Uncle says that [this time], they have managed to grab the brass ring [however briefly], but will ultimately be rejected again when Obama is defeated in 2012 and when control of the Senate will also turn over to the GOP.
Then, the blood-letting will begin. Revolt within the Democratic Party will knock Pelosi and Reid from power, along with their minions, and there will be fresh leadership at the helm.
However, the damage will have been done and it may be another 20 years before the Democratic Party becomes a contender again - as long as the GOP does NOT over reach and screw it up.
By that time, Breyer and Ginsburg will have retired [or died on the bench] and a GOP-controlled legislature [and POTUS] will have installed conservative replacements who will be on the bench until at least 2030 [or longer] ...