THE NEW YEAR – AT 10:36 A.M. ET:  Do I assume correctly that the new year is already here? 

Many people who are not writers don't realize that, in the writing business, we often lose complete track of time.  There are no real weekends and no real holidays.  However, I am convinced by objective and subjective evidence that this really is January 1, 2011.  If I'm wrong, e-mail me.  I've been wrong before.  Happy Valentine's Day.

And how does the year begin?   Well, for us it will really begin on Monday when the new Congress is sworn in.  President Obama said yesterday that he's willing to take any idea from any source, as long as it's good.  He also said that Democrats and Republicans need to work together. 

What a concept!

Maybe, as the White House reviews the numbers in the new Congress, the reality is setting in:  The president did take a shellacking on election day, and the lame-duck session of Congress didn't change that.

A few statistics:

The old Congress, now history:

House of Representatives:  Democrats, 255; Republicans, 179; vacant, 1; non-voting members, 6.

Senate: Democrats, 56;  Republicans, 42; Independents, 2.

The new Congress, about to be sworn in:

House of Representatives:  Democrats, 193; Republicans, 242; non-voting members, 6.

Senate:  Democrats, 51; Republicans, 47, Independents, 2. 

Ah, yes, happy new year. 

January 1, 2011