"What helped the Republicans more than redistricting was the tendency of Democratic voters to be clustered in black, Hispanic and 'gentry liberal' neighborhoods in major metropolitan areas. This clustering has produced huge majorities that have made many large and medium-size states safely Democratic at the presidential level.... But clustering works against Democrats in the House."

The facts all weigh for stimulus, which history shows almost always ends too soon.

"Just look at how different this Republican House is from the country they are supposed to represent. It’s almost like a parallel government, sitting in for some fantasy nation created in talk-radio land."

Some try to work together but the right wing can cripple even a deal made by Speaker John Boehner's ability to compromise.

Obama calls it "a pretty shameful day."

It's the understatement of the year from the Florida Republican. The biggest communication effort with conservatives will have to be on a path to legal status for undocumented immigrants.