Will they succumb to the power in D.C.?

Let's hope the newly elected Democrats, a sizeable number from red states, don't come down with the Potomac pandemic of powerlust.

As they headed to Washington for their orientation, many of the incoming freshmen still spoke like outsiders. Tim Walz, a Minnesota teacher, retired National Guardsman and newly elected Democrat, described himself as ?a farm state Democrat-soldier who?s concerned about the environment and civil liberties.?

He has seen how ugly the partisanship can get in American politics, Mr. Walz said, and is adamant about changing it. ?I?m convinced that what we need to do is heal,? he said. ?Tuesday was not a Democratic referendum; it was an American referendum. It?s not that the American people are so enamored with the Democratic vision, but what they believed is what we said about cleaning up corruption, having some real open debate. It just seems so broken.?