It's right that some Republicans lost after they betrayed the principles that brought the GOP to congressional power in 1994 and elected George W. Bush as a compassionate conservative. It's good that some moderate Democrats won. It's sad that some good Republicans became collateral damage.

Now congressional Democrats have to govern. Democrats for Life wants the party to change its abortion position and hopes that Bob Casey, Jr., will lead the way -- but how will Democrats for Death respond? Will Democratic leaders take seriously evangelical concerns, or will they be like those who last year held a seminar at the University of California, Berkeley entitled, "I Don't Believe in God, But I Know America Needs a Spiritual Left"?

It will be fascinating to watch Democrats trying to make their tent bigger without alienating their Christophobic base. I hope they succeed, because America could use two parties that respect Biblical belief, so that evangelicals aren't captive to one. It will be fascinating to see if President Bush will start vetoing spending bills filled with pork and earmarks. I hope he becomes the fighter on domestic policy that he was supposed to be.

I also hope that the new Congress will take to heart the speech departing Sen. Rick Santorum gave late last month. He spoke about America's need to "come to grips with the terrible fact that we are at war. There is no escape because our enemies are fully committed to our destruction." That reality transcends this election.