Democratic doldrums

Congressional democrats are leaving for a party retreat tomorrow in Williamsburg, VA, and who would've thought two weeks ago that it would be anything but a triumphant affair. The 111th congress has a comfortable and commanding Democratic majority, as well as a sympathetic white house and a country that generically favors their party, the stimulus bill passed without a single Republican vote and it looked like Obama's rock star cabinet was going to breeze through confirmations.
So why aren't they on top of the world?
Yesterday Obama appeared on five different networks in complete damage control mode (two days after a much cooler Obama appeared on NBC before the super bowl and waved off any allegations that this would be a tough week) to basically fall on his sword on behalf of his colleague Tom Daschle as well as to try and trumpet any fleeting support for his stimulus bill.
He summed it up in three words: "I screwed up."
Although there is something to be said for a president that is willing to admit blame and take responsibility for his actions on network TV. These three words will haunt Democrats for a while, and these three words will most likely give Republicans more gumption to step up their guerilla warfare against the stimulus package, as well as anything and everything Obama, gaining confidence after winning the message war this week and watching a fledgling Obama Administration continue to get it's sea legs may mean more, instead of less bitter partisanship as the minority party continues to place itself in firm opposition.