It's hard not to fear that something is going to come along and jinx this for the Dems -- given how tremendous their good fortune will be if Jim Jeffords gives them control of the Senate tomorrow, as expected. I mean, for all the hyperbole we so often hear about political happenings in Washington, this really is a huge deal.

You almost have to feel sorry for the Senate Republicans, offering Jeffords a bogus new leadership position as official Republican moderate. But I'm going to wait until Jeffords actually pulls the trigger to start making fun of them about it.

The one question I have is just when Jeffords' switch, and thus the transfer of power, will become effective -- and specifically whether it will happen before or after conferees are chosen for the budget/tax cut conference committee.

Of course, it's not like Dem conferees are going to wrestle this thing down to $500 billion or something. But they could markedly change the final product and possibly generate all sorts of contention and heartache for House Republicans and the White House.