[snowrip]

Republicans lost this election because they threw away the chance to really lead America in a better direction than it is headed. They lost this election because they lacked the courage of conviction, and so lost the confidence of the voters. They lost this election by completely ignoring their conservative base. They lost this election by trying to please everyone, and by falling for the utter fallacy of political correctness. Did they honestly think conservatives would vote for them just because they were republicans, or that we aren't sick and tired of electing do-nothing politicians? For Christ's sake, THE DEMOCRATS DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A REAL PLATFORM ON WHICH THEY WERE RUNNING!!!!!!!

Corruption? There are PLENTY of instances of corrupt democrats... which the republicants never put pressure on, and never meted out punishment for. Again... when you lack the courage of conviction, the public will lose confidence in you. Ditto personal attacks. The conservatives were hand-wringers whenever anyone attacked them, and ran away from EVERY confrontation. Did they think that was inspiring to voters?

Republicans ignored their base... on spending, government growth, social security, immigration, and a host of other issues. By disenfranchising their base, they caused a great many people (who otherwise would have voted conservative) to stay home or vote independent.

Given when liberalism stands for, elections are now more about saving our nation than about securing political power. At least, that's how the public sees them. In losing the House, republicans have weakened this country and darkened our chances for security and prosperity in the future.

[Tucker822]

BRAVO! BRAVO! (standing O)

[DoughtyOne]

Don't you realize that it isn't about how they failed to lead? It's about how you failed to support that lack of leadership!

Now get it right...

Well, that's going to be the mantra, so get used to it.

[Rodent_in_NY]

I agree with most of what you said. But I don't think it was PC that motivated them. I think it was pure unadulterated corruption that generally occurs when one party runs everything. It was an orgy of spending and an orgy of trampling on individual rights to suit personal pet peeves of the particular corrupt politician authoring the bill or the amendment. Every one of the corrupt, criminal, unamerican swine went along, to get along, almost every time, and the most corrupt, unethical slob of them all, rubber stamped every one of the bills that attempted to bankrupt and destroy America.

[petercooper]

By disenfranchising their base, they caused a great many people (who otherwise would have voted conservative) to stay home or vote independent.

The time to throw temper tantrums is during the primaries. I think I'll take a 2 yr break from FR and come back and try to rally those "true conservatives" you speak about to stop Hillary in '08. Maybe by then they will have come to their senses, or maybe not, maybe they'll still be whining.

[Aria]

Too much compassionate, not enough conservatism.

[norton]

Best summary I've seen.
I'm assuming that your closing comment about elections now being about saving the country applies to the next election and not the current one.
This vote was about ignoring the base, failing to realize stability in Iraq (and failing to advertise the parts of Iraq that the MSM refuses to report), and about an electorate that thinks that this single nation can legislate dangers away...without admitting to the dangers and without paying any price.

Right now I'm trying very hard to stop picturing helicopters on an embassy roof:
Trying not to imagine an Iraq left on its own just in time for the next presidential campaign.

[hedgie]

There are PLENTY of instances of corrupt democrats.

Unfortunately, Democrats will vote for corrupt officials, look at Hevesi in NY. Republicans won't. Our guys have to be above reproach.

[ErnieBert]

Why the postmortem?? If you take a look at the results from previous 6th year midterms, the 6 year itch, this was hardly the resounding victory that the Dems seem to think it is. Even if there wasn't a war in iraq, and even if this congress hadnt been the laziest, greediest most venal congress we have ever seen, the 6th year midterm should still see the party in opposition take seats.

This is as "bad" as it gets. No party in a democracy can rule all the time. But here we are, the liberal media painting Bush as the worst president ever, nothing but bad news when it comes to republicans, mix in the historic "6 year itch" factor and yet , still the dems cant even take back the senate??

[little jeremiah]

They lost this election by trying to please everyone, and by falling for the utter fallacy of political correctness.

And the MSM. People get influenced by what they see, hear and read. And most people watch TV. Thank God I've hardly had a TV my entire life.