IF the President wins re-election, the House is held, and control of the Senate is expanded, so that the Dems perhaps actually become so demoralized that they have to jettison some of the current leadership, do you think Zell will work to reshape the Dems towards a more middle course, or just fade into the background? Enough of a redirection to attract over some econ conserv/social libertine/medical safety net moderate Republicans? Or will the Obama's just move up and put a new face on the same charade?
I think Zell burned all bridges with the National Dem party tonight. That doesn't mean he will fade away though....he may become the populist voice of conscience for the Senate.
Zell has not power to influence the Dems at all. He's out. Dems hate him. Obama if he is very talented, has a chance to reshape matters in his party (or elements of it), as a charismatic articulate black moderate. The future is his, if he has the right stuff, and goes the moderate route. The fact of the matter, is that both parties are at once, more ideological than ever before, and more susceptible to being influenced by a charismatic champion to change their complexion somewhat. The parties are at once locked in concrete and open to change. I know it sounds like BS, but it really isn't. You can see it in the polls, where voters views are shaped to an amazing degree by what their leader thinks. There is a lot of brand name loyalty, more than since, well maybe, the 1870-1896 period.