Mickey Kaus says he’s either half joking or not joking at all when he writes:

Losing control of Congress didn’t cripple Bill Clinton, did it? It arguably saved Bill Clinton. Having Newt Gingrich in charge of the House allowed Clinton to push off against Republican excess, tame his own party’s demands, and actually balance the budget. The difference with Obama is that unlike Clinton he will have accomplished his main goal–health care reform–first, before the drawbridge goes up.
It’s all going according to plan.