(Author’s note: As of this writing, the Senate race in Montana was projected to go to the Democratic contender, but had not yet been declared official; the Senate race in Virginia had not been decided, although the Democratic candidate held just under a 1% lead.)

Now that the Democrats have gained control of the House of Representatives and are on the verge of wresting the majority of Senate seats from the Republicans, will anything change, or will the morning-after headache currently being experienced by members of the Democratic Party simply ratchet up its pounding as they begin the arduous task of trying to turn the Ship of State while not in control of the wheelhouse?

Will the Republicans react like a wounded animal after last night’s licking, fighting tooth-and-nail to “stay the course” on the insane policies instigated by the Bush administration over the last six years?

Will the country become bogged down while the opposing forces in Washington square off for a gunfight on the Mall, or will the two parties take off the gloves, shake hands and get down to the work of governing by compromise?

Being the eternal skeptic when it comes to affairs in Washington, I fear the former is more likely than the latter.

I say this for three reasons.

First, the high-handed methods employed by Frick and Frack over the last six years will not be easily forgotten by the Democrats. I do not believe the Democrats will be so altruistic as to “forgive and forget.” Rather, I expect a substantial number of Democrats to try to stick it to the Party of Bush whenever they can.

Second, this year’s political campaigns have been so filled with mudslinging it makes it difficult to imagine the egregious behavior on both sides of the aisle over the past six months can be tuned out and replaced with a spirit of “let’s all get along and do what’s best for the country” overnight.

Finally, even with the loss of both Houses of Congress, I haven’t seen anything from our President over the last six years that makes me think that he, even if he wanted to, is capable of building a coalition with the opposition in an effort to keep the wheels of government turning smoothly. His “my way or the highway” attitude over the past six years has not engendered a feeling that this is someone who can work with opposing viewpoints to reach an effective compromise.

Consider, if you will, Vice-President Cheney’s interview this past Sunday with George Stephanopoulos in which he stated the administration plans to go “full speed ahead” with its policies in Iraq despite sagging public opinion about the war. Frack further told the ABC commentator, “It doesn’t matter in the sense that we have to continue the mission and do what we think is right…We’re not running for office.”

Doesn’t sound like much of an olive branch, does it?