In the old-news-presented-as-new department, the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) is beside itself with joy because now, officially, there isn’t a single Jewish Republican in the Senate – the first time, the group notes, since 1957, when New York’s Jacob Javits was sworn in (read the group’s blog post here),

The change came about because Sen. Arlen Specter abandoned a Republican party he felt had turned too far to the right earlier this year – and because this week the Minnesota Supreme Court ended the protracted battle by former Sen. Norm Coleman, another Republican, to keep his seat after narrowly losing to former comedian Al Franken back in November.

The statistic is particularly satisfying to a partisan Democratic group that had to listen to commentators insist Jews were deserting the Democrats in droves all through the 2008 election year – until Barack Obama won an overwhelming 78 percent of the Jewish vote.

Jewish Republicans, of course, still own boasting rights to Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.). the GOP whip who could be positioned to become the first Jewish speaker of the House, if the Republicans regain control of the House.  Cantor may be the highest ranking Jew in Congress – ever.

But you gotta think Cantor is pretty lonely up there on the GOP side of the aisle.