Colour me confused

Who's in charge again? I was sure the RNC had a stranglehold on all three branches of government, but this week:

• the most recent white catholic straight male SCOTUS appointee has pro- and ani-choice dance cards (NYT)
• Judy Miller 'retired' from the Times (NYT)
  
• the Dems retained two state governorships (CNN)
• Schwarzenegger got spanked, and not by Maria (LA Times)
• the House rejected Bush's attempts to renew the Patriot Act (WA Post)
• the House dropped the ANWR drilling bid in a budget fight (NYT)

Anyone?