Bill Scher, of Liberal Oasis, explains why the passage of the intelligence reform bill this week is a victory for Democrats.

This bill was passed because the families of the 9/11 victims, the 9/11 Commission, Democrats and sensible Republicans kept up the political pressure to make it happen. If they hadn't, many Congressional Republicans and the White House would have gladly watched it fade away into legislative oblivion.

We also got a glimpse into how the House of Representatives is going to operate when the 109th Congress opens next year. Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert had the votes to pass the bill in November but held up the vote, because the majority of Republicans in the House opposed it.