If Obama and the GOP broker deals that split Democrats in Congress, it could create the same sort of disarray that contributed to the collapses of the GOP majority ahead of the 2006 midterm elections and the Democratic majority in 1994.

Intra-party tensions between the legislative and executive branches are nothing new, and already there are signs that Democrats are trying to avoid them. As Politico reported earlier this week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has told soon-to-be Obama chief of staff Rahm Emanuel that she doesn’t want the Obama White House to be striking side deals with the Blue Dogs or the New Democrats; on the Senate side, Harry Reid has made it clear that Joe Biden won’t be coming to the Democrats’ weekly policy lunches.