Civil War and Reconstruction

And I'm not talking about 1865.

The 2006 midterms resulting in Democratic victory have predictably set in motion a tough fight for control of the Republican Party:

• Leadership of the House looks to be attainable for the long-ostracized super-conservative Mike Pence (R-IN). Flake is also a candidate, but Pence's superior name recognition with the base makes him the most prominent choice to one day be speaker.
  
• The Senate is somewhat less clear. Mitch McConnell seems to be the establishment candidate, but John Kyl and Kay Bailey Hutchinson are also in the leadership mix. Not to be discounted is Trent Lott, who has made a real recovery and is once again a major power player in the Senate.
  
• Michael Steele is too excellent a resource to waste. Reports whizzing around Washington regarding his possible ascension to chairman of the RNC are premature. Nevertheless, Steele would provide a fresh perspective and renewed vigor that the national party desperately needs.
• NRCC Chair is going to be a critical post to fill, presented with the fundraising and organizational demands of trying to retake at least 15-20 House seats. The primary candidates are Phil English (R-PA) and Pete Sessions (R-TX), with Tom Cole (R-OK) joining the fray this afternoon. While not the odds-on favorite, keep an eye on Sessions. I've had the opportunity to meet some of Rep. Sessions' people and they are aggressive.
• NRSC Chair is in the air. John Thune (R-SD) was the obvious choice, but the popular freshman senator and current Inner Circle Chairman turned his nose up at the seat. So have most other GOP senators, wary of a difficult Senate cycle ahead in which the GOP has many more defenses. Look to Norm Coleman (R-MN) as a strong candidate.

Should be interesting. Get some popcorn if you're not faint-of-heart...