Every two years. Yesterday was just a warm-up. A rehearsal for the real show that's coming up.
Posted on 11/03/2010 6:59:54 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Somehow, in every monstrous storm, there are a few ratty old buildings that somehow remain standing in the calm afterwards. Such is the case with 2010.
Nevadans were so angry at Harry Reid that they punished his son with a resounding defeat -- but could not bring themselves to let go of the perceived perks their state gets by having the number one seat in the Senate. Besides, anything that irritates Chuck Schumer cannot be all bad.
Meanwhile, three big states -- California, New York and Illinois -- decided to continue their governor-assisted economic suicide. Those are a few of the head scratching paradoxes staining an otherwise historic wave election validating the notion of a conservative ascendency across the land. (More on those later.)
It was a tsunami-lite that shifted dramatically the power in the House of Representatives and many state houses and legislatures. These power shifts will have ramifications in the lives of people everywhere, and will also have impact on the 2012 election, which we are told will begin today.
This was an ascendency so dramatic that it washed the "Obama Senate Seat" away from the Democrats in deep blue Illinois and handed the GOP the majority of the governorships and state legislatures nationwide. While the national thrashing is what most will talk about, the carnage on state Democrat organizations was even more impressive.
This was a movement so startling that the House Speaker-in-waiting was overwhelmed with the assignment his party had been handed even as their establishment power structure has been spanked in the past months. Folks saw what they used to like about John Boehner -- the humble struggling small businessman. It's as if he realized he needed to become that man again. Memo to Mr. Boehner: you do!
Sure, the tea party movement may have had embarrassments in Nevada and Delaware, but they had big wins in Florida and Kentucky in the Senate, numerous governorships and a ton of House seats. And in the case of Florida and Kentucky, the tea party victims include powerful establishment Republicans in primaries and Democrats / latter day independents during this election cycle.
And in the House, longtime Democrat committee chairmen fell like bowling pins, and sometimes by big margins to tea party Republicans. That there was no national message of coherence by the GOP probably caused them to leave 10 to 20 House seats on the table. To the extent there was a coherent message, you can thank the tea party movement.
When Barack Obama said "I won," he was referring to an election where people voted for his "hope and change" without the foggiest notion of what it meant. Today, conservatives can say "we won" with the confidence that the 2010 electorate knew exactly what it means. Moderate Republicans had best say nothing, unless it is "yes sir" and "yes ma'am" to the new faces.
Yes, I know Sarah Palin told Brett Baier before the returns came in that the Republicans should be willing to work with Obama to get things done for the country. The problem with her statement -- if she really believes it -- is that small government cannot compromise with statism.
That there were a few election results that seem to counter the conservative ascendency speaks to the fact that there is education to be continued and perhaps certain states beyond saving. And there might be some historic teachable moments attached to those that will speak to other campaigns.
Reid's stinky pyrrhic victory in Nevada is crushing emotionally but perhaps a gift in disguise. Running against Reid and Nancy Pelosi surely boosted conservatives' chances nationwide, and now they can continue to harm the Democrats -- assuming Pelosi stays in the House with a demotion from Speaker. Moreover, the Republicans can now fight against the Obama-Reid agenda and not appear to be picking on the black guy. This will help us sell our message of smaller government, and this is critical.
California, Illinois and New York just gave the rest of the country explicit permission to tell them to go to hell when they come begging for bail-outs of their bankrupt state budgets. By electing Brown, Quinn and Cuomo, voters in these states somehow decided that it makes sense to allow the government unions to simply swallow them whole. I say: have at it, and the rest of us will sit and watch and use your failures as teachable moments for the next election cycle.
In the meantime, voters in North Carolina and West Virginia take the schizophrenia awards for somehow opting out of the tea party movement. The Robert Byrd seat is now held by a blue dog so conservative that he ran over the ghost of Reagan in his last minute lurch to the right. With so many Democrats in the Senate up in two years and Joe Manchin now in, the Dems will suffer the awful fate of "controlling" the Senate while not having the philosophical majority. This is not bad news for conservatives particularly, as Pat Caddell called it "functional control" for the GOP.
And keep in mind, this is a GOP that now numbers Marco Rubio and Rand Paul among its new stars. This will change the tenor of the senate debate if nothing else.
North Carolina meanwhile left three of its four blue dogs in office while states like Virginia, Florida, Kansas and Pennsylvania swept theirs all away. Outliers like these made the difference between 65 House seats and perhaps 80-90. Those dogs will now have to explain their conservative campaigns as they caucus with what is now a very leftist radical minority Democrat House caucus.
These races were the cloud behind the very shiny silver lining last night, but again these could be gifts in disguise. Even with the big wins of last night, there is still low hanging fruit for conservatives in 2012. And that will help shape the very critical national debate that we will continue to have starting today.
I have no doubt in my mind that Reid cheated his way back into office. NO WAY he won by 5 pts. legitimately. This seat was stolen from Angle.
In light of the widespread reports of polling place and ballot shenanigans in Nevada, I remain dubious regarding Reid’s “win.”
Good article. I like that part that said: California, Illinois and New York just gave the rest of the country explicit permission to tell them to go to hell when they come begging for bail-outs of their bankrupt state budgets.
I totally agree. I truly hope he gets caught with his pants down.
And those remaining buildings are condemned because of their danger to the public.
Dingy Harry was never worried about his election chances for one minute. He knew it was (votes) in the bag.
Great article, btw.
good article
It will be fun watching the Dems trying to reconcile their liberal core beliefs with the reality, of a large number of their body looking over their shoulder at the ghost of the 2010 elections. How are they going to manage their agenda now? I think the underlying problem will be that Dems will not walk the plank again for Obama and his agenda. It will be every man/woman for themselves in 2012.
FRAUD!
I have to be honest.... we can only pray that our new majority holds firm on No Bailouts. I don't want to think about what happens if they don't.
Nice line!
Rubio’s win is huge. Also, let’s remember that New Mexico elected the first Hispanic female governor, and she’s a conservative Republican. The GOP has a golden — make that platinum — opportunity to sway a large portion of the Dems’ mealticket. Let’s hope and pray they seize it.
As for Illinois (my state), Chicago dominates. The balance of the state (except for East St. Louis area) is red, but can’t overcome Chicago machine politics (which actually has some help from local Republicans).
Regarding Reid, I put his win to two things: 1) Fraud. 2) Some RINO Republicans such as Wayne Newton, et al, who want the favors he offers. My son lives in Vegas. I will visit him, of course, but will never spend a dime, other than dining and a round of golf or two, to advance the Vegas economy.
For one thing, there is the illegal alien vote. Nothing is done in Nevada to verify citizenship. When one registers to vote, all one has to do is check a box that states they are a citizen. It is a total honor system. Those in control refuse to use the E Verify system or any other that would verify legal status. The registrant signs his/her name. That signature is checked at the poll to confirm that it is the same person, but if their name is on the voter rolls they are considered to be a legitimate voter. Of course it is a crime to register to vote when one is not a citizen, but it is a crime that is neither investigated nor prosecuted and probably won't in the near future since Democrats are in control.
Every two years. Yesterday was just a warm-up. A rehearsal for the real show that's coming up.
With redistricting coming up, the deep long term results of last night won’t be felt for months, but the results will be a furthering of the conservative lock on the House of Representatives for a decade.
In Nevada the Casinos bussed the folks to the polls...did you not see that Email yesterday...?
The voter fraud in Mexifornia must stink to the heavens..
After all....... whats to stop them?..
And Washington State must stink like disulphides..
Then you got your Colorado mafia...
Dont even bring up Chicago..
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