The republican party is in more trouble than loyalists would like to admit. The election of Travis Childers to the vacant House seat in Mississippi CD-1 is the third straight democratic win in districts thought to be republican strongholds. Is it possible that Americans are simply unwilling to reward a party for their abject failure to govern, in spite of recent party affiliations? Is there hope for America after all? Yes, and yes.

The republicans now hold just 199 seats in the House, compared to 236 for democrats. Bush won the district in 2004 with 62 percent.

Childers won 19 of 24 counties in Mississippi and came away with 54 percent of the vote. He accomplished this feat by running as a conservative democrat - pro-life, pro guns, pro community college - who opposed the war and the fiscal irresponsibility of Bush / McCain.

The republican attack machine had so much success under a Rovian watch, but has failed to produce results this time around. Maybe Karl could show some long-term party loyalty and get back to work, or he could get comfortable in his high perch in the media and keep spewing irrelevant advice for Obama to ignore.

The RNCC and their shadow group, Freedom's Watch, pulled out all the stops to defeat Childers, who should've been an easy target. They race baited - by trying to link him to "that black guy running for president." They tax baited - by falsely accusing him of supporting a raise on S.S. taxes. And they guilt by association baited - by claiming he was still involved with a disgraced ex business partner. Somehow, someway, people still voted for him!?!?!

The political landscape has changed. The dishonest, cheap tactics that got Bush elected aren't going to work again. Now that democrats have claimed former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert's Illinois seat and a conservative republican district in Louisiana, what more do the republicans have to cling too?