“Either way, Washington watchers expect the “big stuff” is off the table. Few, if any, envision the post-midterm dynamics will provide political room for major breakthroughs on immigration reform and climate/energy issues.

“Obama worked the big issues when he had a big majority. Some people think it was a mistake but that’s what he did. And now, in the standoff to come, the big projects are behind us, just as the Republican argument to repeal those big projects is also off the table,” said Hess.

“That said, there are some areas where one could imagine creative collaboration and bipartisanship. Any effort toward deficit reduction, for example, has the potential to go somewhere.”

Patrick Basham, an adjunct scholar with the Cato Institute, cautions that Americans should prepare themselves for a two-year policy abyss, with Washington unable or unwilling to come to terms with itself and achieve anything substantial.

“The would-be success on Tuesday is based on the Republicans being the Party of No — and most politicians don’t change their strategy until they lose,” said Basham.

“So, in short, what happens after Tuesday is … absolutely nothing. Everything now becomes about the next presidential election in 2012. Obama will of course be looking for compromise, but Republicans will be very reluctant to give him anything he will be able to sell as a success during his drive for re-election.””

 Mitch Potter [thestar.com]