[counterpunch]

The Democrats have another thing coming if they believe this election is good news for them as a harbinger for 2006.

There was a consistent theme that ran strongly through every election yesterday: Status Quo.

Republicans retained Republican seats, Democrats retained Democrat seats, propositions to change or create new laws all failed, and traditional marriage was reaffirmed.

Every single issue went status quo, with the exception of local down ticket races where Republicans took Democrat seats. This does not signal a public that wants to shake things up much, which is what Democrats really need to win in 2006. It is pretty clear that there is not going to be a Democat version of the Reagan Revolution riding in on the heels of the anti-Prop 13, or a national push to "throw the bums out" that swept in Newt Gingrich's Republican Revolution.

Sorry, Dems, but it looks like we're going to be in for more of the same for a long time to come. The public spoke loud and clear and said, "keep things the way they are!"

[AmishDude]

Deep observations. Thanks.

[goldstategop]

Exactly my reading of it. As bad as it was, things could be a lot worse. We all know how the media is going to spin this and still there's nothing here that says the voters want the Democrats in charge of the country. If we're going to have a realignment election, it would make sense to see the Democrats stand for something other than simply being anti-Bush. They aren't.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[WestPoint90]

You are right in your analysis, but the big variable I think that is left out is how the media will spin this from now to '06. As they are saying now, this is proof of a referendum against Bush. All that will be repeated. Sheeple will eat it up.

We may hate the msm, but there is now mistaking their ability to get across the points they want. Everyone see Iraq as a failure, because that is what the msm wants it to be. All great stories of thriving businesses and iraqi's thankful to the us will never be seen.

[DarthVader]

The Republicans also took two of the major statewide offices of VA. The leader of the opposition to Kaine in VA is now LT GOV Bill Bolling.

[LibertarianInExile]

Good summation bump!

BTW, I'm borrowing your tagline. I hope to return it in early January.