A failure in our twelve years in the House to really lead. We let spending get even more out of control under our watch for instance. And we couldn't get much done the last few years despite holding all the levers. Equally importantly we really ran a poor campaign. In previous elections we've had a unified message. We didn't this time and not only that a lot of our candidates sniped at each other instead of concentrating fire on the Dems.
While we were in power, I hated this "reach across the aisle" garbage. The Republicans showed how weak they were, they rarely objected and put up a fight, because they wanted to be bi-partisan and nice.
Now, does anyone believe that a Democrat is doing to go for this bi-partisan ideal? Will they remember that their "friends on the other side" worked with them and were as friendly as can be?
The answer is NO.
Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner.
The fact of the matter is that the GOP has gotten out of sync. This has been one of the weakest campaign cycles I've ever seen come out of the Republican Party in many years; it's like they weren't even trying. Did Iraq play a part? Possibly. Was it all an MSM conspiracy as too many people here claim? Please spare me.
Hopefully the GOP can retain the Senate (although even that is looking a bit bleak) and this "Speaker Pelosi" shock will set the party back on track for 2008.