"Why would anyone want a 'new direction'?"
Apparently, lots of people want one.
I agree with the good points you posted. But as many are stating here, seems there was just too much disappointment over illegal immigration, out of control spending, and the war lasting longer than many had thought with casualties and injuries almost everyday.
I did vote for my Republican governor this election, but he lost too. Other local Republican choices I voted for were mixed...some won, some lost.
Right now we do not have a post mortem on what went wrong. My hunch is economics. Granted the economy is booming and unemployment is low, but we are in a global economy which can outsource jobs (including high tech jobs), import cheap H-1B workers plus an open border where illegal immigrants can flood into the job market. Reagan Democrats have been asking for relief and redress from the GOP they voted into office. All they got from GWB was globalism is a fact of life, outsourcing is good for America, H-1B workers numbers were expanded, and hesitancy to close the border and enforce illegal immigration laws. The Dems have responded in many blue collar GOP districts with minumum wage increase, and review of CAFTA and other trade agreements. That alone will cut into the GOP blue collar support. Granted the Dems will not deal with illegal immigrants or H-1B quotas, but atleast the blue collar will get some of their issues redressed by the Dems. I think after they get what they want they will turn back to the GOP for taxcuts and illegal immigration enforcement (assuming the GOP can agree to that with the Chamber of Commerce wing of the party).