J. KARL MILLER: Democrats responsible for their own defeat

As predicted by the polls and certainly expected by serious students of politics, a massive red tide from the right wrested control of the House of Representatives from the Democrats and removed a sizable chunk of their Senate majority. The rout did not play favorites, taking down at least two incumbent senators (Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas and Russ Feingold of Wisconsin), while also defeating three long-termcommittee chairmen, one of whom (House Armed Services' Ike Skelton of Missouri) was highly regarded on both sides of the aisle.