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• Can the Democrats in Washington govern? Maybe that should be, “Will they?” With control of the House and Senate, the D.C.’s Dems now have an opportunity to govern along with a pretty good resume building opportunity. And after the 109th Congress, the voters would probably settle for a blaze of competence.

  We’re talking something more than the “first 100 hours” deal that Speaker Pelosi and company have going on. Anyone can hold it together for 100 hours. It’s the next 11,000 or so that get kind of tricky.

  Doing things like getting budgets done on time, by the end of the fiscal year with a minimum of pork would go a long way with voters. So would getting an actual immigration reform package done and keeping the cat fighting with the GOP to a minimum.

• This one will sound familiar: Can the House Democrats in Raleigh govern, or at least order lunch from the same menu?

  While the state Senate has essentially the same leadership crew in place, the House Democrats are going through the process of picking the guy who will pick up after Speaker Jim Black.

  One wouldn’t think this would be much of a problem. They’ve got a health majority and some practice in the driver’s seat.

  But as has been mentioned here before, the House Democratic caucus is really a compilation of affiliated interests, some more closely allied than others. Fissures run along geographic and ideological faults.

  To boot, the past two years of scrutiny surrounding Black has throw a lot of scrutiny onto what’s usually an inside baseball sort of deal. Throw in some pretty health egos, a health helping of historical baggage and sincere differences of opinion and this whole process of choosing a leader gets a bit more complicated.

  There will be one early hint as to how things are going. To a person, House Democrats I’ve talked to said they want their pick on Jan. 10 to be “the” pick, no going outside the caucus to cut deals with the Republicans. If they can stick to that, expect their 2007 to go pretty smoothly. If not, we’re in for a bumpy ride.

• Speaking of the Speaker, will all parties involved be able to come to some conclusion around L’affair de Black.

  Irrespective of the outcome, it feels like its time for an end.

• Continuing in Raleigh, the honorables have been making noises like they’re going to try and get something done on health care for the uninsured, like creating a system modeled after one of the northeast states (New York, Massachusetts, etc…) who have taken this on in recent years.

  If they do, bring your big boy britches if you’re coming down the General Assembly, because that there will be a brawl.

  The other big question mark hangs over whether the honorable mean to do anything about “tax modernization,” or whether they’ll let state revenues swing with the economy like a Stray Cats concert for another couple years.

• For both Raleigh and Washington: Did they learn anything from the past couple years in terms of ethics.

  Yes, the General Assembly passed some laws that take a first bite at the lobbying and ethics reform apple. And yes, the folks up in D.C. are making noises like they’re going to do the same thing.

  But is it window dressing or did they really get religion?

  Will the folks in Raleigh continue to close loopholes in the ethics law and change a culture that gives a great deal of latitude to a hand full of leaders? Will D.C. lawmakers have the fortitude to forgo earmarks and other legislative goodies?

• Can John Edwards turn himself into a real live presidential contender?

  Yeah, yeah, he’s finally announced he’s running. And yes, he’s got a good network in key primary states and a message that resonates with the party’s activist/progressive wing.

  So what else you got?

  Over the next year, Edwards will need to raise some serious cash to stay viable. He’ll need to show he can appeal to party centrists and maybe even a few Republicans. It would be good for him if he could capture some of the buzz the Barack Obama created at the end of 2006.

  The goal for Edwards by the end of the year is to get people to stop thinking of him as “the former North Carolina senator” or “Kerry’s 2004 running mate,” and start thinking of him as “the presidential candidate.”

With specifics on lots of smaller specific policy items aside, that’s my big picture list. What’s on yours?