Let's hope he's right . . .

Early reports coming in are of unexpectedly high voter turnout -- far beyond the usual midterm elections. What that could mean is not clear. It could mean the Democrats have managed to inject last-minute enthusiasm -- or fear of the Republican takeover. Or the crowds could be Republicans, and we'll see a tsunami rather than just a storm.

Either way, it's unlikely that Nancy Pelosi will be House Speaker next January. John Boehner is already talking confidently about their strategy and expectations. And it could be worse. He and the other leaders, as opposed to the noisy Tea Party crowds, seem to have a measure of maturity and practicality about what they can accomplish. This is the subject of David Brooks' NYT column today. I hope he's right -- assuming, that is, that the basic assumption of a Republican win materializes.

Brooks writes:

Two years ago [when the Democrats took control of the House], Democrats waxed romantic. This year, the Republicans seem modest and cautious. . . . We have to be careful not to get carried away, says Lamar Alexander . . . We have to beware of unrealistic expectations, emphasized Senator Joh Kyl . . . Republicans can't accomplish big things without Democratic help. They can't defund Obamacare on their own their or pass a new tax law."

Many Americans are still skeptical about us," acknowledged Eric Cantor. . . . We can't do anything that might unsettle them, like shutting down the government. Instead, Republicans need to offer reassurance. . . .

Republican leaders are also prepared to take what they can get, even if it's not always what they would like. Republicans woudl like to extend all the Bush tax cuts until the sun fizzles out. They're willing to take a compromise extension of two or three years.

. . . The predictable response to all this gradualism is that the Republican leaders may want this, but there is no way the fire-breathing Tea party-types are going to cooperate. . . .

But the leadership-versus-the-crazies storyline is overblown. . . . The No Compromise stalwarts like Senator Jim DeMint have a big megaphone but few actual followers within the Senate.

Over all, if it is won, a Republican House majority will be like a second marriage. Less ecstasy, more realism.

Could it be that "Hell NO" John Boehner was just grandstanding? That Mitch McConnell's recent boast -- that Republican strategy will be to see that Obama is a one-term president -- was just cheerleading for voter turnout? Maybe.

If Brooks is right, if this is what these GOP leaders are saying in private and to political columnists, then there's some hope that a different attitude may prevail and some stuff might actually get done.

All in all, though, I'd rather we keep control of both Houses.

Ralph