I thought we don't vote for Republican candidates simply because they have an "R" after their name and likewise, I would hope we don't vote against a Republican because they have an "R" after their name.
There is no valid excuse for the voters not supporting good conservative candidates such as Burns, Allen, Santorum and Talent -- none!
The WOT, tax cuts and judge appointments will all be hurt by this over the next two years.
Any hope at all of no amnesty and spending cuts post-Bush, have now been set back years.
I voted a straight Republican ticket (Crist, Harris, and some small time local guys), regardless of whether they were good conservatives, because electing the alternative (Dems) is unthinkable to me. 'Course, we got the unthinkable anyway.
Much as I disrespect much of what the Repub Party seems to have become, a big government party with nebulous principles, I am sick at heart that the voters turned them out and put in the leftists.
But I can still see clearly enough that our guys, from Bush on down, are partly, or even mostly, responsible for this debacle. They did a lot of things wrong and they totally didn't bother to go for some beautiful opportunities.
IMO the voters didn't reelect Santorum et al because they belong to the Repub Party, the party that everyone's angry at. Being on the right side of the issues isn't necessarily enough if your party isn't seen to be there as a whole. At least that's what I think.