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Earlier today, I was having a discussion with one of my classes about the upcoming congressional session, and how it may play into the 2008 campaign. Within the class there seemed to be a fairly sizable segment of the population concerned that Democratic control of congress may play into Republican hands. After all, if the Dems won the election because people want change but then fail to deliver, it is entirely possible that the public will get fed up, returning to the GOP in 2008.

I disagreed, and still do, The key, I argued, is that the Dems now control both houses of congress. Assuming that they maintain a relatively unified front on legislation over the next year or so, they should be able to box the current administration into a corner. If they block the legislation, the administration can be painted as obstructionist; if they agree to it, it can be painted as a victory for the forces of change.

The key, in the end, is the ability to control the frame. Which makes this bit of news absolutely curcial:

Asked who they want to have more influence over the direction the nation takes in the next year, Americans by a two to one margin said the Democrats in Congress rather than Bush.

By winning the election, the Dems won control of the frame. People already want them in control, and as a result, are already predisposed to lay the blame for gridlock on the Republican administration. Assuming that the Dems recognize this - and everything I've read so far convinces me that they all understand this - they can use this to their distinct advantage. Will Bush veto a minimum wage increase? Will he veto legislation designed to cut the cost of the prescription drug benefits without cutting service? I doubt it. And if he does, he's walked right into a trap.