If Conservatives Win Big Next Tuesday, It Will Be The Beginning Of The GOP's End

Alan: Ball's scenario assumes American conservatives are sane and thus capable of perspective, proportion and compromise. If I were to wager, I would sooner bet on the proverbial snowball making it through hell that the GOP forsaking its Civil War. American conservatives -- particularly The Tea Party --will insure exacerbation of internecine meltdown. "Quem Deus vult perdere, dementat prius." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whom_the_gods_would_destroy

If they win in the Senate, Republicans might decide to start making real policy again. A few genuine achievements would be a boon to the G.O.P. presidential candidate in 2016, and voters might well hold Republicans to account if they take control of Congress and don't do anything productive. Molly Ball in The Atlantic. 

The House majority leader, at least, is ready to make a deal. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) argues that Republicans need to prove they're capable of governing. Jake Sherman for Politico. (Alan: Implicit in McCarthy's comments is the correct assumption that Republicans are not capable of governing.)

VINIK: Republicans' plans, if they take the Senate, will go nowhere. Before they can advance an agenda of their own, they've got to resolve their own differences. The New Republic.