What would the Democrats do with a majority in 2010?

Expat

Just did a couple searches and didn't find anything on this topic, which seems surprising. So apologies if this is a duplicate, but I'm curious.

Let's say the Democrats hold onto slim majorities in the House and Senate. They've taken losses and their hold on government looks shaky, but the next two years they're in the driver's seat.

What exactly would they do? Anyone know what the plan was? What legislative accomplishments do we see? What pitfalls do we avoid?

Please...I beg you: ignore the how; don't think about the how. Here's all you need to know: it happened. Now, what's next?
 

Just a Rube

Do they still have less than 60 seats in the Senate in this scenario? Because the filibuster will likely still manage to kill most Democratic legislation; the ACA debacle more or less demonstrated that the days when you could count on avoiding a filibuster or pick off a few moderates from the other party were essentially over for major legislation.

If they somehow manage to get to 60 reliable votes in the Senate and hold on to the House, then expect movement on immigration, and possibly another attempt at climate change legislation (although the Senate's failure to take up Waxman-Markey after the House had already passed it in 2010 might put a damper on that effort).

Immigration reform might be a possibility (at least to try) even if they don't have a filibuster-proof majority, as it is in area where the Democrats might hope for some Republican support and even a failure that could be pinned on Republican obstruction would be politically valuable (especially since it would almost certainly feature some Republican candidates and backbenchers coming out with outrageously offensive comments at some point, which would help further discredit the Republicans, especially among minorities and younger voters).

But if the Democrats manage to somehow go against almost every midterm election in history by gaining seats, it will be because something significant happened, and Obama will almost certainly cruise to reelection in 2012. Even if the Democrats lose seats but retain control of both Houses, 2012 is still probably an Obama victory (due to a more stimulated economy, a Republican Party that is even more radicalized in defeat (think more Todd Akins), and the fact that high-turnout elections tend to help the Democrats more anyway, due to differential turnout patterns among the two bases).
 
Plumber

Plumber

Off the top of my head, a second stimulus and immigration reform, though I think I'm leaving quite a bit out.
 

Expat

I know I made the thread, but it seems like others are with me in how vague this scenario feels. I couldn't think of anything, so I posed the question; maybe there's a reason I couldn't think of anything.

A recovered (but slim) majority in 2012 seems easier to picture.
 
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