Arlen Sphincter and the liberal twins from Maine misread what the people voted for in 2008, the same way Obama did.
They went the Dem wave that was just voted in, and Sphincter to save his own skin.
When the wave or tsunami goes in the Republican favor, newly elected or re-elected Republicans are not going to go against that wave.
Sure, just like the 55 GOP Senators that did not go against the wave of the 2004 election. Let’s see, that wave brought us:
Social Security Reform (Dead on Arrival)
John Bolton for UN Ambassador (Not approved, Republican Senator cried and kept him from coming out of committee)
Numerous Judicial Nominees (Not approved, Gang of 14)
Sec. of Defense Rumsfeld (pummeled by Democrats and GOP, had to get dumped by Bush)
Iraq War Surge (Mark Kirk visits Bush to oppose)
Supreme Court Picks (Bush forced to meet with Democrat minority leaders to run by what picks are acceptable to them)
Senate Judiciary Committee (Chaired by Arlen Specter)
Decreased Govt. Spending? (Nope)
Attempt to Pass Amnesty for Illegals? (Sure did)
Hand wringing over suspected Gitmo Torture? (A whole lot of that; thank you McCain)
Daily anti-war coverage? (all the time)
Attempt or Ability to defend Republican President in time of war? (crickets chirping)
Big Losses in ‘06 mid-term (you betcha)
Big focus on saving one’s own political hide? (that was pretty much the main focus for GOP Congressmen)
One weirdo Congressman from Florida who hit on teenage guys able to make the ‘06 midterms all about him due to lackluster GOP leadership? (Yep)
One word able to sink a GOP Senator? (yep, macaca)
How many GOP Senators did we have back then? 55
Did the GOP have the House? Yep
Did Bush win re-election in ‘04? Yep
Did the GOP go AGAINST the wave? Big Time.