Patterico's Pontifications

11/3/2010

Election Results: California Bucks Sanity Trend

Filed under: General — Patterico @ 6:38 am



Right now it looks like we picked up 60 House seats and 6 Senate seats — enough to take control of the House and send Nancy Pelosi back to commercial air travel.

It was a night of victories but mixed blessings. While we sent Russ Feingold packing, we couldn’t shake Harry Reid, and we traded Mike Castle for Chris Coons. Rubio cruised to victory, but write-in Lisa is ahead of Joe Miller in a race that may take weeks to decide. We picked up at least 10 Governorships, but entrenched Democrats like Barney Frank, Pelosi, and Maxine Waters remain in Congress. As Jim Geraghty says: “[T]his is the most frustrating overwhelming landslide victory of all time.”

But a landslide it was. Obama is going to have a tougher time, and this was a huge pickup for Republicans.

Meanwhile, in California . . .

. . . we sent Governor Moonbeam back to Sacramento. We sent Senator (but you can call her “Senator”) Boxer back to D.C. And, worst of all, we did away with the requirement of a 2/3 majority to raise taxes. Hello, tax increases!! [UPDATE: Kevin M. notes in comments that I got this wrong — thank goodness! We no longer need a 2/3 majority to pass a budget — but a 2/3 majority is still needed to raise taxes. It’s an odd twist that I frankly had not realized when I voted on it — but it means that the result is nowhere near as bad as I thought it was.]

About the only sane thing Californians did was reject Proposition 19, which would have legalized pot (and would have made pot smokers a protected class, members of which could have sued their employers for discrimination against their toking).

More locally, a Rancho Palos Verdes measure (Measure P) to expand Marymount College failed, and my friend Alan Schneider looks to be on his way to becoming a judge. Both are good results indeed.

All in all, a very good night — but not quite the night I had hoped for.

192 Responses to “Election Results: California Bucks Sanity Trend”

  1. you forgot, no on prop 23, too.

    And there is a weird logic to the results. A tax bills must originate in the house. and that is what the republicans go. but rubio is right (his speech is good), that this isn’t suddenly america loving republicans so much as saying, “okay, here is your chance, now don’t blow it. Again.”

    and yeah, we still have reid. but we won’t have Phil “I don’t care about the constituion” Hare and Alan Grayson. There is that.

    Aaron Worthing (e7d72e)

  2. Coming from afar, I actually think this will be a good thing for CA in the long run, for the people primarily responsible for the financial mess now own it – lock, stock and barrel. And if Brown asks the gov’t to help pay off their debts, who controls the spending now? Sorry, we already gave at the office, Jerry – go ask your Messiah for help.

    Dmac (ad2c6a)

  3. Don’t forget the other noteworthy losers last night, AW – Mr. “you don’t control this townhall meeting, I do!” Hill in IN, Bob “the manhandler” Etheridge, and Melissa (“I don’t have to hold any meetings with my constituents”) Bean here in IL.

    Dmac (ad2c6a)

  4. Re: Brown, Boxer, Newsome (you’ve GOT to be kidding), etc.

    You’ve made your bed, California, now lie in it.
    That hoped-for Federal bailout of your fiscal mess
    just went bye-bye….furious

    furious (71af32)

  5. Also i smell trouble in alaska. their procedure for dealing with write ins is as follows. first they count all the write ins without looking at what they wrote, and compare it to the lead non-write-in. That let’s them decide if it is necessary to count the write ins.

    Well, write ins won pretty comfortably.

    So now we have to count them. If you thought arguing about dangling chads, how about arguing whether someone writing “Lisa Mirkiski” or “Lisa Moocowski” (say it out loud–its funny!) counts a vote for Princess Lisa?

    dmac

    didn’t know off the top of my head about those except for the manhandler. but i trust you to be right about them.

    Aaron Worthing (e7d72e)

  6. California taxes are going up. But at least the House will vote against a bail out.

    Let’s see what damage the Congress can do in two months.

    Arizona Bob (e8af2b)

  7. This is the first place I came to this morning because CA is the story. The sad story. We are now a lab where all the Dems’ worst policies of the past two years will incubate, hatch–and then devour our state. We will be one giant Detroit.

    As usual, Pat, you put it so rightly. Where are the sane voters? Have they already left?

    Patricia (9b018a)

  8. I really regret Harry Reid’s win. Personally, I would rather swap a different Senate result and have had the Dems save another dozen or more House seats.

    jim2 (6482d8)

  9. At some point, if Joe really loves the state, he should concede and do so quickly after the absentee ballots are counted

    Oh and hopefuly we will be rid off that multi millionaress as well

    EricPWJohnson (2d1c68)

  10. Some of the election results were just amazing. Monnbeam and Boxer have a nasty history that is ignored by the media. Both are inept. Moonbeam coupled with the repeal of the 2/3rds vote will accelerate the loss of productive Californians

    jkstewart2 (ba0506)

  11. Patterico–

    I’m pretty sure that Prop 25 only affects the budget vote, not votes on taxes. As I understand it, that means that the legislature could pass a budget calling for higher taxes, but that doesn’t itself raise taxes. Somewhere there needs to be a 2/3rds vote.

    Of course, Jerry could circumvent that 2/3rd requirement by “letting the voters decide.”

    Kevin M (298030)

  12. It baffles me that California, a state with so many brilliant minds, sends a dolt to the Senate year after year.

    I am hoping Jerry Brown actually will do something. I wanted Meg Whitman to win, but Brown starts with the trust of the legislature and we’ll see if he actually will do what he says he’s going to. Maybe.

    MayBee (212d1b)

  13. Yes, Maybee that’ we’re afraid off with Brown, EP always clueless as ever,

    narciso (c07a45)

  14. I really regret Harry Reid’s win.

    As do I, and I live in Nevada. I think the Republicans nominated the one person in the entire state who couldn’t beat Reid.

    Tea Party candidates had mixed results, so I don’t see this election as either a vindication or a repudiation of them.

    Some chump (4c6c0c)

  15. Kevin M.: you are right. Thanks for the correction. I added this update to the post:

    [UPDATE: Kevin M. notes in comments that I got this wrong — thank goodness! We no longer need a 2/3 majority to pass a budget — but a 2/3 majority is still needed to raise taxes. It’s an odd twist that I frankly had not realized when I voted on it — but it means that the result is nowhere near as bad as I thought it was.]

    Patterico (c218bd)

  16. My belief is that if Murkowski was the person most AK voters went to the polls to vote for, that’s who should be their Senator.

    I don’t think she participated in this election fairly, and I don’t mind if Miller fights this tooth and nail to ensure the vote is accurate, but I basically believe AK wanted Murkowski to be their Senator.

    It’s easily my biggest disappointment, but I respect the election process. I don’t think it would be OK for her to lose because some of the votes for her were thrown out, so I suspect the people not biased against her (as I am) will feel the same way.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  17. Well, it’s all pretty obvious. Republicans are elected by white people and 40 percent of California’s electorate are non-white. Don’t expect it to get any better.

    Chris (6d9de4)

  18. No I’m not going to respect the process, the ASC blatantly violated the law on writeins, they gave her a cheat sheet, she’s been Senator for eight years now, her allies, pushed someone off the air
    at least for a weekend, I still think Miller can win this

    ian cormac (c07a45)

  19. That is pretty much ridiculous, “Chris”.

    JD (b5376e)

  20. Chris, my guess is that it’s a matter of how big a mess does Cali need to make before people get real about it. Black and hispanics care about their kids’ future just as much as whites do, so eventually this racial politics angle has to be broken by hard reality.

    It’s certainly not like they were always democrat voting blocks. And honestly, I suspect plenty of whites voted for the same mess yesterday. Texas has plenty of non-whites and we don’t seem to be headed in California’s direction.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  21. There is nothing “sane” about US drug policy, and prop 19 would have been a nice first step in reforming it. My disagreement with your post ends there, though.

    California must be filled with some of the most politically inept voters in the US. How anyone would vote for Jerry Brown is beyond my ability to comprehend.

    Also, the fact that Harry Reid survived fills me with unending heartache.

    Otherwise a great night, I just wish these previous points weren’t bringing me down.

    AndrewGurn (0beab2)

  22. Funny how some people fight for the wrong people, every damn time.

    JD (b5376e)

  23. I truly feel for all of my California friends. You are always more than welcome to come out here to the Heartland, where the people are nice, and we don’t elect too many idiots.

    JD (b5376e)

  24. The lesson that should be learned by Tea Partisans is “nominate better candidates”. Somehow, I don’t think it’ll sink in.

    Some chump (4c6c0c)

  25. The Tea Party did pretty damn good, considering it was their first national election.

    Patricia (9b018a)

  26. If Parnell won by nearly 20 points, despite the fact that everyone from Fagan to the Daily News
    reamed him 24/7, Miller is far from a lost cause.A West Point and Yale educated lawyer, give me
    a better candidate, O’Donnell did about as well as most candidates there, going back to 1996

    ian cormac (c07a45)

  27. Dustin

    well, you made me think on the “murky” issue more and it all does depend on whether miller wants to “go there” in terms of an election contest.

    And yeah, it is implausible to think that all those write ins went to the other 150 or so on the list, at least not in high enough percentages to mean a damn.

    if i was joe, i would wait for them to hand count it, but barring really outrageous behavior i would concede if they told me she won. i would not demand a recount, or play the game i was discussing.

    if she wins, btw, she would be the second senator to win on write in. the first is strom thurmond. nice club, there.

    Aaron Worthing (e7d72e)

  28. Feel the same way in MA as well. The country gets a sweep but my neighbors keeps the incumbents in office.

    ASH (dbfe47)

  29. Tim Scott and Allen West and Nikki Haley and Marco Rubio and the new Governor of New Mexico all think you are a drooling moron, “Chris”.

    JD (b5376e)

  30. In retrospect it is probably better that the republicans lost in California. A drunk has to hit bottom before sobering up. The fiscal train wreck that California has become needs to be solved by the motormen who caused the wreck. California, like New York can now forget about any federal bailouts. The fireworks between the civil servant unions and the governors and state legislatures will interesting to watch.

    cubanbob (409ac2)

  31. Republicans are elected by white people and 40 percent of California’s electorate are non-white. Don’t expect it to get any better.

    That must be why Allan West won in a mostly white district, and why the new Governor of SC is Indian, and…ah, why bother? You’re just another asshat.

    The Tea Party did something unthinkable previously – they became a legitimate and nationwide movement in less than two years, and directly influenced the election (in both positive and negative ways). Monumental achievements, all – and they’ll learn from their mistakes and do better the next time around.

    Dmac (ad2c6a)

  32. Dustin, the GOP only wins Texas by getting 70 percent of the white vote. That never happens outside the south. Blacks and Hispanics are poor so they will vote for people who give them handouts.

    Chris (255191)

  33. btw, in iowa, they threw out three of the justices that invented a right to gay marriage.

    Aaron Worthing (e7d72e)

  34. On the whole a solid effort. Had hoped for a bigger TEA caucus in the Senate and a dozen more baggers in the House.

    Yet the MN Senate flipped, first time since the ’70s I believe, and took the MN House along.

    Have a Dim, Dayton the Unready as Guv but after 8 years of TPaw who can blame voters? Leaves my fave for the spot pre-nomination, Siefert, MN House speaker I’m thinkin’.

    Mother B. won garnering most of undecideds with remainder falling to the Indies. In your face DFL.

    I’d say Cali’s hope for more than token Fed help is tits up.

    gary gulrud (790d43)

  35. In the end, the Tea Party served notice on the Republican establishment: either nominate people who believe in small limited government or the Tea Party will. Even if they have to pick them out of the phone book.

    Both Republicans and Democrats should reflect on WHY these flawed candidates won the party nominations. For the Republicans it means that the base has returned to its fiscal roots. For the Dems it means that if they continue on, next time a quality small-government opposition will clean the remainder of their clock.

    Kevin Murphy (298030)

  36. Aaron, that’s patriotic of you. It’s really hard to concede to someone like Murkowski, who I best describe as villianous.

    And Ian Cormic is right that this process just wasn’t fair in many ways. Although I think it culminated in most of the voters wanting the villain.

    I can’t give Ian a better candidate than Joe Miller. I won’t pretend he is a saint… indeed, I think vetting him better could have been tactically advantageous for him. But Joe’s great.

    We gave it our best shot, Ian, and corrupt bastards are tough to beat. We beat a lot of them this year and we will need a generation of Tea Partying.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  37. Chris is a racist. At the very least a bigot. And typical of the leftist identity politics clowns.

    JD (b5376e)

  38. Dayton, isn’t he the Target scion, you know just folk, that’s he the answer to another wrong question

    ian cormac (c07a45)

  39. Hispanics handed Reid another term. We need to get real and realize that the Mexican Hispanics are quite unlike the Cuban Hispanics.

    Chris (255191)

  40. Ryan will now have the bully pulpit on all matters fiscal – and Boehner’s smart enough to stay out of his way. Watch his responses to every Obama boondoggle in the future – cannot wait.

    Dmac (ad2c6a)

  41. prop 19 would have been a nice first step in reforming it

    Andrew Gurn,

    As someone who doesn’t want pot legalized, maybe I’m just better situated to see that your political aim with pot is much better served if the proposal is not nearly as far reaching.

    Maybe you could have won the day on this issue if they hadn’t asked for more than they needed to smoke pot without breaking the law.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  42. WE!!!!!!!!!……

    ….. traded a minority for a majority but the Cocktailers still sit around complaining about broken egg shells while gorging on the omelette. (Christine, Sharon)

    If not for the Tea Party pushing for all these horrid candidates there would have been nothing to party about.

    Why is this lost on folks navel gazing at transaction that in the end don’t matter?

    Torquemada (a8a9b2)

  43. We need to get real and realize that the Mexican Hispanics are quite unlike the Cuban Hispanics.

    Really? Wow, that’s some real eye – opening news from that cranium there, Chris. Mexican immigrants are actually different from Cuban immigrants? Who knew?

    Can we subscribe to your newsletter? I think you should title it Duh.

    Dmac (ad2c6a)

  44. We need to get real and realize that the Mexican Hispanics are quite unlike the Cuban Hispanics.

    What’s your proposal, Chris?

    I grant you’re right about demographics. You’re right about Reid… whose turnout was beyond my wildest expectations.

    My solution is to try to convince Mexicans, blacks, whites alike to see what’s coming in the future.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  45. California is lost.

    Too many parasites.

    Too many half stoned, morons.

    Not to hard to understand results threw this lense.

    Torquemada (a8a9b2)

  46. “too,” “through,” horrid, sorry.

    Torquemada (a8a9b2)

  47. Yeah, Dmac, it’s Earth shaking that they would be different!

    LOL.

    Chris… why did you presume they’d be the same?

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  48. There is no “we” Chris. You are not amongst people that share your views.

    JD (b5376e)

  49. We need to get real and realize that the Mexican Hispanics are quite unlike the Cuban Hispanics.

    You got that right! Most Cubans came here to work, not work the system!

    Torquemada (a8a9b2)

  50. “…Have they already left?”
    Comment by Patricia — 11/3/2010 @ 7:12 am

    Planning has been underway for some time; a hard date selection is next.

    AD-RtR/OS! (3e686d)

  51. We need to shut down the border and deport all illegal immigrants and even stop legal immigration. Long term we need to introduce intelligence tests to vote. Otherwise we’ll be Mexico by 2050.

    Chris (255191)

  52. Comment by Dustin — 11/3/2010 @ 8:14 am

    Dustin,

    Well, I guess I sort of agree with you in that prop 19 should have been written better.. although I’m guessing how I would have wanted it written would be quite at odds with how you would have (if you were for legalization).

    Hell, if I was asked to write a drug legalization proposition, it would end up being 5 words long: “All drugs are now legal”.

    AndrewGurn (0beab2)

  53. I didn’t presume anything. Just that we can’t assume most Hispanics will vote like Hispanics in Florida.

    Chris (255191)

  54. Yeah, you are just an idiot. Intelligence tests?

    JD (b5376e)

  55. Dustin–
    As someone whose worse remaining vice is coffee, I’m sorry that Prop 19 failed, and sorrier it was on the ballot in that form. The statute on the ballot would have been struck down in the first court it reached, so I had no problem with its so-called ramifications (e.g. no employer can be required to ignore federal laws; no person can be required to get a license/pay a tax to commit a federal crime, etc).

    But given that it did exist and did fail, the spin will be that Californians “Don’t want to legalize pot”, and the deeply damaging Drug War will continue to abrade civil rights.

    Kevin M (298030)

  56. Andrew, that is a legitimate POV, and yeah, I don’t agree with it.

    But at least it’s based on a concept of free choice and personal responsibility. Prop 19, as you obviously know as well as I do, was anti-freedom.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  57. And frankly, I’m not a California voter. I would be happy with California voters choosing to have their own laws on this and my state having her own views.

    The core problem with the federal government is its intrusive nature. The core problem with GOP social politics is that it isn’t a simple ‘liberty’ argument at the federal level, leaving specifics to state and local politicians.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  58. Sorry, Pat, that your boss went down.

    Now there will be nobody to stop Moonbeam’s wild agenda and nobody to tell the legislature that increasing “taxes,” whatever that is, can’t be done.

    Any bets as to whether Harris sues to prevent the implementation of 26? Certainly, the corrupt CA judiciary would agree that it is unconstitutional.

    The day of reckoning in CA is fast approaching, folks.

    Ed from SFV (c16c43)

  59. Chris, I can’t assume that Hispanics in Azusa will vote like Hispanics in Covina. It is the DEFINITION of racism to assume that they will.

    Which you do.

    Kevin M (298030)

  60. Comment by Patterico — 11/3/2010 @ 7:33 am

    The upside of this is that the Dems running Sac will no longer have the luxury of complaining about one or two Reps holding everything up;
    They have the votes to pass anything except taxes.
    They own it now: Lock, Stock, and Barrel (which is what the taxpayers should look forward to wearing)!

    With the defeat of P-23, Moonbeam will be under the gun to generate real jobs to counteract the ones that WILL be leaving CA (or never come here in the first place) –
    and they will be leaving.
    The voters, in their infinite wisdom, just sealed-the-deal on CA being a business-unfriendly environment:
    Congratulations, the environment will be “pristine” for the unemployed.

    One rational result is that now “fees” will require a 2/3rds vote of approval for increases –
    This will short-circuit one of the Dems favorite work-arounds when it comes to new revenue:
    Describing a new/increased tax as a “fee” to circumvent Prop-13’s 2/3rds requirement.

    Another, is that the voters threw Cong-Dist reapportionment into the “Independent Commission” hopper,
    preventing the pols in Sac from drawing a district for themselves in a future run for Congress after term-limits have forced them from Sac,
    and of rewarding their Congressional friends with safe-seat districts.
    It will be interesting to see the handiwork of the commission next year.
    If they proceed in a business-as-usual manner, it could ignite a real shit-storm that will make the Davis Recall seem like a church social!

    AD-RtR/OS! (3e686d)

  61. According to Malkin, in addition to the gubenatorial pickups, 16 state legislatures had one or both houses flip red last night. More good news.

    daleyrocks (940075)

  62. Dustin,

    Thanks for not making a lame marijuana based pun during our conversation. ;D

    Also, Chris: Bite me.

    AndrewGurn (0beab2)

  63. Just go back enough decades and the argument would be against the Irish and Italians.

    When we play racial politics, there is no way America wins. Democrats understand the calculus of racial grievance and are already situated to win this battle.

    I asked Chris for his proposal. Something specific about what he intends to do about his conclusion about Mexicans. I see no other way to beat racial politics than to tell the truth (and the truth has no racial bias).

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  64. Thanks for not making a lame marijuana based pun during our conversation. ;D

    You’re most certainly welcome. LOL.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  65. I’m glad California won’t get a bailout. Brown and all his Dem allies will have to fix this on their own.

    To do my part, I’m seriously considering registering Republican. A longtime Libertarian friend of mine did that yesterday. He says the Tea Party has dislodged the Cocktail Party crowd from control.

    Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. (a18ddc)

  66. Comment by Chris — 11/3/2010 @ 8:29 am

    People who are politically aware have known this for some time – about thirty or forty years!
    You, are an election year dilettante, not a few steps removed from Moron.

    AD-RtR/OS! (3e686d)

  67. Comment by JD — 11/3/2010 @ 8:30 am

    CA used to require an “intelligence test” for voting. When I registered prior to my 21st Birthday (actually, when I was 20 – with my overseas deployment orders in my hand – nine-months before my birthday) it was required to fill out the registration form under the eye of the Registrar.
    That was the “Intelligence Test”!

    AD-RtR/OS! (3e686d)

  68. Did Kamala Harris win ?!?!?!?!

    JD (b5376e)

  69. It is a sad day for California. Jerry Brown will raise taxes again and California will go broke. It is already broke! I am glad that I don’t live in California.

    m (8d321b)

  70. JD:
    Harris…46.1%;
    Cooley…45.5%;
    a 38,500 difference!

    AD-RtR/OS! (3e686d)

  71. Chris is probably Killgore Trout rubbing one out in frustration over the election results.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  72. I for one appreciate Chris presenting the Stormfront point of view, just as I appreciated Helen Thomas presenting the Hezbollah point of view.

    daleyrocks (940075)

  73. Between Brown, Gavin, and Kamala, it is hard to pick which is worse for California.

    JD (b5376e)

  74. If it’s true about 2/3rds needed to raise taxes then it’s spend and borrow. And don’t be surprised if Bernanke and Geithner find a way to loan to CA. If there’s a way to steal, the Libs will find it. Also, the “citizen’s commission” just means they’ll have 5 liberal Democrats, 4 liberal Independents and some RINOs doing the gerrymandering so don’t expect much “reform”.

    For CA, this election means CA is simple to be written off. Four years of Brown, presuming no recall and at least a few years of crushing carbon regs. Anyone that’s in business today needs to sell ASAP since the value of your business is starting that long path to zero.

    CAUTION: don’t move to UT – look who they re-elected.

    cedarhill (cae0e3)

  75. It would be pretty awesome if Whitman’s concession was “Y’all can go to hell; I’m going to Texas”.

    Someone was saying she should just go to Texas and screw things up here. I say, I’m happy to have someone who signs lots of paychecks come to Texas and make those Texan paychecks.

    We really, really like paychecks here in Texas.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  76. Harris is VERY pro-gun control.
    I think the gun-owner’s of CA are in for a very rough ride for four-years, or at least the gun-sellers who are regulated by the DofJ’s Firearms Bureau.
    But, she has quite a few lawsuits wending their way through the State and Federal Courts, that she will have to defend against, that were spawned by Heller and MacDonald. It will be interesting to see it her strategy on these differs from what Jerry did with them?

    The only influence I see that a Lt.Gov. has is on the Boards that he serves as an Ex-Officio Member – who knows, he might even be to the Right of Moonbeam?

    Brown might, in a short few months, wonder to himself why he wanted to be Governor again. It’s not the job it was the first time around when he put into place quite a few of the destructive influences he now has to deal with as fully grown problems, not just future theoreticals.

    AD-RtR/OS! (3e686d)

  77. We also like guns in Texas.

    Our beaches are not so great, but we have Southwest airlines, which flies direct to San Jose.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  78. Pro. 26 also passed, meaning that anything which increases fees must be passed by a 2/3 vote (in the legislature) or of the people (for local stuff).

    Your boss ended up losing, in the end.

    We elected a democratic slate, made it easier to pass a budget, and harder to raise revenue. So: what’s the legislator’s way out on this? It must be awfully tempting for the Republicans to just not show up in Sacramento on Dec. 6.

    aphrael (9802d6)

  79. Chris…do you mind taking the bedsheet off your head the next time you post?

    Infidel Mataween (9e07b1)

  80. Identity politics is a very small part of elections. (I, for example, did not vote for Gianoulias).

    The “ethnic” component is better manipulated by gerrymandering. Look at Chicago. We have a Hispanic district that looks like a horseshoe. A Jewish district that’s fifteen miles long along the North Shore. Black districts centered around housing projects.

    And then a very powerful organization with a lot of foot soldiers. Durbin bragged that there were 5,500 get-out-the-vote workers — 500 paid and 5,000 volunteers patronage.

    nk (db4a41)

  81. Let him keep the bedsheet, it controls his dandruff.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  82. California seems to have a bona fide preference for a different philosophy than conservatism and are completely aware of what they have voted for.

    So I don’t think a better campaign could have really won the day there. If anything, there was an overkill approach with diminishing returns.

    But the RNC was a complete mess for the past two years. A complete mess with a chairman who eventually had to be scared into doing his job instead of writing off the GOP being ‘ready to lead again’ or having any hope whatsoever, freeing the entire RNC to pursue dumb things (such as that club in LA or Steele’s private ventures).

    I firmly believe this has cost us many state level races, even though we realized some gains. I believe it may have hurt us in a few major races too. And I also believe the RNC breaking down so badly was part of the reason some candidates were unvetted at the time they were nominated.

    The RNC should not have been blamed for 2008, and we lost a lot of great staff when it was purged in 2009.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  83. True, but Cornyn and Sessions, who spoke little,
    for risk of removing all doubt, weren’t much better, Rove’s knifethrowing stunt with AC had mixed results

    ian cormac (c07a45)

  84. Rove is awesome, but he is not a leader. He raised great assets and has sober insight, but he’s not a leader

    Cornyn is obviously a major part of the problem, too.

    We did great, but the RNC and other GOP groups left a lot to be desired. At least from the RNC, there was a clear presumption it wasn’t our time to win yet and they can just focus on other things. Steele himself said we weren’t ready to win.

    We need to be very careful in 2012 predictions. Some great candidates did not succeed, showing that our ides are not resonating perfectly. Florida’s strong results are a sign that we can beat Obama in 2012. PA’s weaker ones, with Toomey barely edging out, are one of many signs that we have to play it smart.

    The people who recently picked Obama over Mccain rejected some of Palin’s picks yesterday, even though I think they were much better than their general election opponent in every case.

    We need to pick a candidate that commands more respect from America (fair or not). We need to get someone who can clean house, not mince words, and drive hard, running the RNC.
    Draw your own conclusions.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  85. The 1983 Labour Party election manifesto has been called “The longest suicide note in history.” Last night California signed it. If it has been Willie Brown running (For you non-Californians, he was the Assembly Speaker and then Mayor of SF but he has recently come out and said public employee unions are the worst thing to happen to the state.), I might have voted for him. He knows where all the bodies are buried plus, unlike Jerry, he has seen the light.

    I agonized over whether to stay in California and only did so because of my kids and grandkids. It was a tough decision. Nothing remains of the state I saw in 1956 except the beaches.

    Mike K (568408)

  86. Steele needs to be replaced by someone more coherent and more competent.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  87. If you recall the Thespian classic ‘TimeCop’ Senator McComb’s advice was very appropriate in my state, at the top level, that’s all I’m saying about
    one particular race for the Panhandle. Btw, I hope
    the folks at NMA have all their papers in order, when China makes their move

    ian cormac (c07a45)

  88. “38.Dayton, isn’t he the Target scion, you know just folk, that’s he the answer to another wrong question?”

    He de one. Bailed DC his last Senate term over Christmas cause alert went orange, or something, to protect his staff.

    gary gulrud (790d43)

  89. The RNC is a committee, so maybe we need to have several people run it. No single leader. It’s not clear what the hell Steele did that requires a commander.

    Romney is an excellent fund raiser. So is Karl Rove. Both these men have been in trenches of politics for a while and have connections and understanding. Palin is a trusted reformer who has command of much of the movement. Whoever she wants to be the 2012 nominee will probably be the nominee.

    I’d love it if they shared leadership of the RNC together in order to restore it to functionality. None of them hold office. I think the primary process proves Romney’s 2012 hopes are DOA, too.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  90. The underreported story of yesterday is the huge sweep of state houses and governorships. The reversal of control in favor of the GOP is of greater magnitude than that of Congress.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  91. SPQR, that seems more important than the US Senate, long term, though both are important.

    We gained 6 Senators, which is great. I counted 9 I thought we would get, but these state races bode extremely well for the party’s future.

    Many Senators elected in ten years+ will have gotten their start today. Probably some Presidential contenders are now Governors. And of course, Dennis Kucinich’s entire congressional district might be deleted. Things like that build on the reapportionment from ten years ago.

    I don’t think the RNC was organized or funded well enough to be much help in these races. We did well because of party line voters and grass roots, but I think we need to make sure we have an effective party.

    When you look at a red blue map, it’s as though democrats are concentrating (such as in California) and the rest of the country is getting redder.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  92. Hey, charlie wilson went down, too.

    that would be the guy i featured in a couple posts asking for investigation of serious allegations of spousal abuse.

    not to be confused with the guy who was played in that movie by tom hanks.

    Aaron Worthing (e7d72e)

  93. Dustin – The Democrat hipster elites are concentrated on both coasts. The rest of the country is filled with ignorant, racist, homophobic, nativist, christianist, gun clinging, cousin humping rubes.

    daleyrocks (940075)

  94. daleyrocks, this is why we must proceed with the global warming conspiracy.

    A convenient truth.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  95. Let this be the day! That the Oceans! Began to rise again!

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  96. OK, now that I’ve been vindicated regarding Brown and Boxer, let me say that I don’t think that’s good news – they basically won because their opponents sucked. Also, Proposition 140 should have been retroactive. What the whole thing means is that the GOP needs conservatives in some places, moderates in others and RINOs in yet others – in short, it must be a big tent again.

    Triumph, in constructive mode (0692b1)

  97. Dustin – Obama said in his press conference that if Congress does not act soon enough, the EPA might have to.

    daleyrocks (940075)

  98. Comment by Mike K — 11/3/2010 @ 10:12 am

    I so agree. This is just sad.

    The Long Beach Dems can be really proud that they elected a dead woman. Idiots!

    Patricia (94c68d)

  99. OK, now that I’ve been vindicated regarding Brown and Boxer,

    They [Democrats] will crush you tomorrow, and what you’ll get is a big stick in the place where the sun never rises!

    Comment by Triumph

    t I won’t be the one purchasing tons of vaseline tomorrow.

    Comment by Triumph

    I don’t think you’re familiar with the term “vindicated.” The GOP won most of the elections yesterday. We expanded our power tremendously. We won 6 more Senate seats, and this is basically the down side for us.

    You’re not wrong that the GOP needs to pick the best conservative who can win, wherever it can, and that we don’t always manage to do so, but that’s life.

    Your rude claims of doom and ass rape were repudiated.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  100. About the “Murky” Alaska results, I think there is a reasonable chance that a bunch of folks voted “none of the above” by purposely writing in joke names. I expect to see a bunch of votes for Lisa Simpson.

    About the California Democratic wave:

    From
    http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2010/11/027616.php

    THE TROUBLE WITH CALIFORNIA
    November 3, 2010 Posted by Paul at 9:28 AM

    Yesterday, in response to a post of mine in which our friend Dafydd ab Hugh laid out an optimistic election scenario for California, Ed Anderson — a law school classmate who has lived in California all of his life — wrote to tell me why he thinks California is basically a lost cause. Here is his take:

    “I expect both Brown and Boxer to win [handily]. This is based on my experience of living here all my life. The population is radically different from what it was in the 1970s. The public employee unions are ultra-powerful, the blacks are solidly Democratic, and the millions of Hispanics are led by leftists, even though the average folks are more moderate. Then you have the Silicon Valley elitists, the Hollywood crowd, and, finally, the gays, many of whom are one-issue voters and rabid liberals. As an aside, when I dropped off my absentee ballot this morning, I realized that, judging from the appearance of the some of the people in line, the heavy turnout in my precinct was likely prompted by Proposition 19, marijuana legalization.

    “I will be happy to be proved wrong, but I believe that if our country is going to be saved, it will have to be done so by the people in the heartland.”

    There is a sign of hope, though. Chuck Wilkerson, a guy I bet you never heard of, received 32% of the votes in running against HENRY WAXMAN.

    Ira (28a423)

  101. daleyrocks, that was an amazing press conference. Really really good news for Republicans hoping for more power, but bad news for America. Obama just doesn’t get it.

    He actually reminded me a lot of Alvin Greene’s repetitive ‘Demint caused the recession’ manner. Obama didn’t yield an inch, and actually seemed more liberal than ever.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  102. Good on you, triumph. You are the only one that came back and admitted how bone-jarringly wrong you were. Lucky for you that you were unwilling to back up your smack talk with cash.

    JD (9bc648)

  103. Why do I think that’s not Triumph the wonder chihuahua?

    SPQR (26be8b)

  104. Am I conflating the comments of two different Triumphs?

    If so, my mistake. The Triumph yesterday made some radical claims of doom that simply weren’t vindicated.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  105. No, Dustin. It is the same. It was vindicated about as much as Barcky’s policies were. I was mocking it.

    JD (b8ac0e)

  106. For us rural Californians, it’s no surprise. Ranching, farming, and tourism are big where I am, so we see lots of city libs visiting and leaving their trash. We are accustomed to being viewed as rednecks with resources to be exploited. We are slaves to their ‘compassion’. Their desire for a positive self-image as they make rules about water and farming, hunting and fishing, land use, etc. may seem laughable to people living elsewhere, but not to us.

    jodetoad (7720fb)

  107. Sanchez was reelected in California? Another embarrassment.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  108. I am running low on coffee today, JD. That was a pretty embarrassing failure to interpret sarcasm on my part.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  109. I just want to say that Chris’ idea of intelligence tests for voting is an excellent one – and in that spirit, he should go first. Durrrrr…..

    Dmac (ad2c6a)

  110. I’m not going to pile on CA while we still have a lefty government in IL, and probably another lefty governor to boot. They’re going to raise our taxes so high that we’ll be right up there among the top states of all time in tax obligations. The Dem machine’s alive and well – even the local Cook county party hack (he’s Madigan’s boy, who is the state leader and overlord of the Dem party) for assessor won his election; and this is the same guy who currently holds two other offices that are in direct conflict with each other. We are so screwed.

    Dmac (ad2c6a)

  111. Madigan is a remarkably kind fellow in real life, Dmac.

    JD (b8ac0e)

  112. Dmac – on the bright side, you were kind enough to not send an incompetent corrupt mob banker to the Senate.

    JD (b8ac0e)

  113. The Whitman campaign failed to exploit having more welfare and fewer jobs.

    The Fiorina campaign failed to exploit the bailout.

    Coming from afar, I actually think this will be a good thing for CA in the long run, for the people primarily responsible for the financial mess now own it – lock, stock and barrel. And if Brown asks the gov’t to help pay off their debts, who controls the spending now? Sorry, we already gave at the office, Jerry – go ask your Messiah for help.

    Voters eliminated gerrymandering, meaning the legislative and congressional districts will not be drawn to protect incumbents or parties.

    This is the first place I came to this morning because CA is the story. The sad story. We are now a lab where all the Dems’ worst policies of the past two years will incubate, hatch–and then devour our state. We will be one giant Detroit.

    Even more so than Maryland or Connecticut?

    Moonbeam coupled with the repeal of the 2/3rds vote will accelerate the loss of productive Californians

    We need to exile the non-productive Californians instead.

    btw, in iowa, they threw out three of the justices that invented a right to gay marriage.

    The next time the justices issue an equal protection decision, maybe they should REALLY define equal protection by the standards of the current generation. (Varnum v. Brien)

    Michael Ejercito (249c90)

  114. Dmac – Corruption-Iz-Us

    daleyrocks (940075)

  115. Tea Party encouragement from a part of the world where the original tea partiers weren’t popular.

    That’s why in Britain, as in the rest of the free world, we so desperately need the Tea Party to continue the great work it began yesterday and sow the seeds of the intellectual revolution which will save us from our own culturally-imbued, Gramsci-fostered stupidity. It will only succeed if it remains a broad church, as welcoming to disaffected Democrats and Republicans as it is to Libertarians. And it certainly won’t achieve this is if it starts engaging in the kind of horse-trading we see among Democrats and Republicans of the old school: tariffs and tax-breaks for favoured corporate or agricultural interests, say; Pro-Life concessions for Catholics; or whatever. The moment it starts to behave like that, the Tea Party will have lost its raison d’etre and by extension its right to govern.

    Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. (a18ddc)

  116. “Obama just doesn’t get it.”

    Dustin – Absolutely. He’ll work with those business he’s been holding conferences with to get the job spigot open that he doesn’t understand why is not open. After all, he has no understanding why he has paralyzed a lot of decision making with uncertainty over cap and trade, health care reform, the expiration of Bush tax credits, bypassing bankruptcy court rules, penalties for offshoring jobs, and a variety of other measures. He has not spent much of the past two years vilifying various segments of the economy and population as greedy or the enemy, not our post-partisan ass-kicker in chief.

    Why would any business not want to expand when the President has not hesitated to use individual companies for target practice in front of the nation if they oppose some policy he likes instead of pursuing a course which is best for its business?

    He most certainly does not get it that he has conducted a war on business since entering office while rewarding his cronies in public and private sector unions. He is too dumb.

    daleyrocks (940075)

  117. Dustin —

    If said “vindicated” with regards to Boxer and Brown; I acknowledged my defeat regarding the Republican landslide here.
    I’m glad we concur on the need for a more “inclusive” strategy, though. We might have avoided Reid or even Moonbeam III: Resurrection, had we had better candidates.

    Triumph, in constructive mode (0692b1)

  118. So, basically, you just kept up your Moby act and continued to call people names.

    Dustin – hence, sarcasm.

    JD (b8ac0e)

  119. Madigan is a remarkably kind fellow in real life, Dmac.

    I’ve heard that as well, JD – but the way he’s conducted himself in office over the past decades is deplorable. He also represents large commercial real estate clients in tax appeal cases, and of course in his position they usually win. But of course that’s not a conflict of interest in this place (gag).

    Dmac – on the bright side, you were kind enough to not send an incompetent corrupt mob banker to the Senate.

    Yeah, but only just – it was ridiculously close, and the only mark against Kirk was his fudging of how many men were under his command while in the military. You should have heard the screeching in the Dem Praetorian guard here (aka Chicago media) on that one. Sheesh.

    Dmac (ad2c6a)

  120. I’m glad we concur on the need for a more “inclusive” strategy, though. We might have avoided Reid or even Moonbeam III: Resurrection, had we had better candidates.

    Comment by Triumph, in constructive mode

    That would be neat. You know, it occurs to me that you’re a total hypocrite on this persuasive method, which is endearing in a way. Why troll US with that message, though. That’s a well discussed point here already.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  121. So basically I should mourn the defeat of candidates (O’Donnell and Angle) whom I think deserved, and are prime responsibles of, their demise? And I should say that tea party is a politically viable movement rather than a one-trick pony and a liability, useful in a few cases and harmful in most? Is that the new definition of conservatism going on here?

    Triumph, in constructive mode (0692b1)

  122. “So basically I should mourn the defeat of candidates (O’Donnell and Angle) whom I think deserved”

    Comment by Triumph, in constructive mode – Dude, you should try to learn to think for yourself, which I realize is an uncomfortable posiyion for Democrats.

    daleyrocks (940075)

  123. No, it is not. You are just constructing that straw man so you can flog it. Bugger off, Moby.

    JD (b8ac0e)

  124. btw, in iowa, they threw out three of the justices that invented a right to gay marriage.

    in Iowa you had a bunch of national anti-gay religious hate groups pour money into influencing a bunch of down-ticket races for the express purpose of contriving a bit of anti-gay propaganda they could use to intimidate other judges nationally… and as agitprop it has been very effective.

    But the elections yesterday had absolutely nothing to do with gay marriage or any other weirdo social con neurosis.

    It was about the spendings. And the taxings. And about no you cannot has marijuana. But mostly it was about the spendings.

    happyfeet (a55ba0)

  125. That’s why in Britain, as in the rest of the free world, we so desperately need the Tea Party to continue the great work it began yesterday

    There’s hope for Britain on that front, Bradley – check out this vid where the Tory spokesman demolishes Gordon Brown in front of the EU not too long ago:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94lW6Y4tBXs

    I’d kill for a guy like this on our shores – succinct, utterly correct and devastating analysis. I’d guess Christie comes close.

    Dmac (ad2c6a)

  126. Triumph the wonder chihuahua, there is still no explanation for why you made the original comment about how the Democrats were going to prevail over the GOP in the election – delusions, drugs, dishonesty? Which?

    SPQR (26be8b)

  127. and that two of the gay marriage judges were retained with over 60% of the vote takes a little of the fun out of the anti-gay talking points I think

    happyfeet (a55ba0)

  128. Is that the new definition of conservatism going on here?

    Why don’t you articulate for us what you think actual conservatism means – in words, thoughts and deeds. This should be hilarious.

    Dmac (ad2c6a)

  129. Thank you for that link, Dmac.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  130. The rest of the country should refuse to bail out any of California’s bankrupt pension plans… and so we don’t just shift the money we do get to the unions… not one thin dime until we get our house in order
    We just elected an idiot to the Assembly who thinks more people paid to do recycling counts as a created green job.. ummmm… with whose money?
    Oh.
    Higher fees (taxes)… idiot.
    We used to call it the garbage man and we already pay fees for that.
    We already separate our trash into three cans and pay additional fees for them to further sort for recyclables. They already keep the deposit money fee on any cans and bottles the homeless don’t get to first.

    The dump yard already has a conveyor belt with dozens of sorters, the lower level sorts out rock, concrete, asphalt, and turns it into road base. Wood products and green waste are put into the tub grinder for composting, appliances are stacked into a corner and sold.
    On and on

    SteveG (cc5dc9)

  131. Obama’s a cretinous fool, and that’s the nicest thing you can say about him. Now O’Donnell was a witch and then became a believer, for most of her
    life, she has never said she was perfect, Now Boxer
    does a good impression of one of the characters in the play that shall remain nameless. Fiorina for all her faults would have been an acceptable Senator, Reid a character not unlike the creepy
    Pstriarch in Poltergheist 2, what do these people
    need to buy the clue, they are buying a pig in a poke

    ian cormac (c07a45)

  132. Boxer’s victory speech was awful.

    JD (e13e3c)

  133. “and that two of the gay marriage judges were retained with over 60% of the vote takes a little of the fun out of the anti-gay talking points I think”

    Mr. Feets – According to the WaPo I believe only three Iowa State Supreme Court Justices were on the ballot for retention this year. All three were defeated. If you have different info or are talking about a different level in the Iowa court system, please correct me.

    daleyrocks (940075)

  134. When hasn’t a Boxer speech been awful?

    A CA Bailout…
    I would think that the House will hold CA hostage until they (perhaps) fully implement the Welfare Reform Measures passed by the Gingrich Congress and signed by Bubba; it’s been 14-years and CA still has not implemented major, significant, portions of that measure.

    AD-RtR/OS! (3e686d)

  135. I didn’t say supreme court judges Mr. daley

    Judge Robert Hanson, who sided with six same-sex couples in the Polk County District Court ruling, was retained with 66 percent support once all precincts were counted. Polk County District Judge Scott Rosenberg, targeted in a last-minute automated phone campaign for signing one gay couple’s marriage waiver, kept his seat on the bench with 69 percent.

    so as you can see the voters of Iowa in large part affirmed teh wonderfulness of gay marriaging by voting to retain two gay-marriage friendly judges

    happyfeet (a55ba0)

  136. *gay marriage-friendly*

    happyfeet (a55ba0)

  137. You cant’ fix stupid, just inform them they will pay a price, for this action, the thought occurred
    to me, who will Jerry, come up with as this generation’s Rose Bird, I think I’m going to be
    ill

    ian cormac (c07a45)

  138. AK write-ins…
    There are one-hundred sixty (160!) registered write-in candidates for Senator in Alaska.
    The write-in tally should be very interesting.
    Can Lisa win?

    AD-RtR/OS! (3e686d)

  139. “I didn’t say supreme court judges Mr. daley”

    Mr. Feets – Exactly why I asked you to correct me. Those Hawkeyes love them some gay marriagings by judicial fiat.

    daleyrocks (940075)

  140. You guys in California should have passed the pot bill. You’ll need all the drugs you can get your hands on to deal with a STate governed by Jerry Brown, with Senator Maam as your senator, and the government unions trying to bleed everyone dry.

    Illinois may be broke, but we at least sent some of the thugs packing last night.

    Rochf (ae9c58)

  141. AD – interestingly, a write in vote for Miller will not count towards his vote total.

    JD (c8c1d2)

  142. yes Mr. daley that was exactly why you asked me to correct you but I didn’t read that part til later

    sorry.

    happyfeet (a55ba0)

  143. They have fixed that race, so thoroughly, Roscoe Conkling would be proud

    ian cormac (c07a45)

  144. When hasn’t a Boxer speech been awful?

    When it’s a concession speech.

    Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. (a18ddc)

  145. a write in vote for Miller will not count towards his vote total.

    Comment by JD —

    You have got to be freaking kidding me.

    This is more sarcasm, right?

    /googles

    /head explodes

    Loquacious D (b54cdc)

  146. California is so beautiful and self-destructive.

    Christoph (8ec277)

  147. That is not sarcasm, sadly. The LtGov Was quoted in Politico saying that. something about how Miller did not get on the approved write in list, so the votes will not count.

    JD (c8c1d2)

  148. JD – this is one of the downsides of an approved write-in rule. Although I think any state with an ‘intent of the voter’ interpretation system (as Alaska has) ought to automatically count write-ins for candidates listed on the ballot … because the intent of the voter is clear.

    aphrael (9802d6)

  149. Governor Jerry “Moonbeam” Brown; let’s hope he does better than the first time around.

    Senator Ma’am? Well, what can I say…Given the electorate should I have expected a different result?

    Still my hear goes out to my fellow Americans in a lovely state with some real challenges ahead.

    Californians, may God have mercy on you, and on us all.

    Bob Reed (5f2db5)

  150. Aphrael – it does seem silly, no? Lord help them if the number of Miller write in votes is greater than the difference between the 2.

    JD (c8c1d2)

  151. And for all those interested, I linked to the Iowa judges story here.

    Bob Reed (5f2db5)

  152. In the immortal words of Rufus Wainwright (for Bradley) :

    California, California
    You’re such a wonder that I think I’ll stay in bed
    Big time rollers, part time models
    So much to plunder
    That I think I’ll sleep instead

    I don’t know this sea of neon
    Thousand surfers, whiffs of freon
    And big nights back east with Rhoda
    California please

    There’s a moment
    I’ve been saving
    A kind of crucifix around this munchkin land
    Up north freezing, little me drooling
    That’s Entertainment’s on at eight
    Come on Ginger slam

    Ain’t it a shame
    That all the world can’t enjoy your mad traditions
    Ain’t it a shame that all the world
    Don’t got keys to their own ignitions
    Life is the longest death in California

    Dmac (ad2c6a)

  153. Dmac,
    In return . . .

    On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair
    Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air
    Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light
    My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim
    I had to stop for the night
    There she stood in the doorway;
    I heard the mission bell
    And I was thinking to myself,
    ’this could be heaven or this could be hell’
    Then she lit up a candle and she showed me the way
    There were voices down the corridor,
    I thought I heard them say…

    Welcome to the hotel california
    Such a lovely place
    Such a lovely face
    Plenty of room at the hotel california
    Any time of year, you can find it here

    Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. (a18ddc)

  154. Did the anti-smoking pro cig tax groups like ACS, AHA, ALA, and so on fight the legalization of SMOKING pot? Just curious?

    John (833a6d)

  155. Heh – you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.

    Dmac (ad2c6a)

  156. My last thought is that if I choose to stay in CA, because of family and work, then I need to get some political training by the tea party folks. I can’t just sit here and watch the state circle the drain.

    Patricia (9b018a)

  157. Food for thought:

    MSNBC is reporting that Tea Party backed candidates for the House won just 40 of 130 races, which translates to about a 32% success rate.

    Assuming this is true (and if it’s not, I’m open to seeing contrary evidence), that means that Republicans who weren’t backed by the Tea Party won about 200 of the remaining 305 races, or just under 66%.

    In the Senate, Tea Party backed candidates won 5 of 10 races.

    The questions that we need to look at are:

    A) Would the races won by Tea Party backed candidates have been won by any Republican nominee anyway?
    B) Would the races lost by Tea Party backed candidates have been lost by some other Republican anyway?
    C) Would the races lost by Republican candidates not backed by the Tea Party have been won by a candidate with Tea Party backing?

    Some chump (4c6c0c)

  158. Did that widely anticipated cell phone undercount materialize?

    daleyrocks (940075)

  159. California is so beautiful and self-destructive.

    Comment by Christoph — 11/3/2010 @ 2:20 pm

    Heh. If California were a woman, men would find her irresistible.

    Dana (8ba2fb)

  160. MSNBC is reporting that Tea Party backed candidates for the House won just 40 of 130 races, which translates to about a 32% success rate.

    “Just” 40 of 130 races? That sounds like a lot for a political organization that started less than 2 years ago, arguably with Rick Santelli’s Tea Party rant in February 2009.

    DRJ (d43dcd)

  161. Triumph the wonder chihuahua, there is still no explanation for why you made the original comment about how the Democrats were going to prevail over the GOP in the election – delusions, drugs, dishonesty? Which?

    Comment by SPQR —You left out a “D”. Distillery.

    Mike K (d6b02c)

  162. “Heh. If California were a woman, men would find her irresistible.”

    Dana – Right. Until you had to explain to your wife why she had to take pills to help cure your kidney infection. Never know where some of those irresistable women have been. Heh.

    daleyrocks (940075)

  163. California remains an aberration to America’s sensibilities.

    Unfortunately, Ahnold Schwarzenegger (D-IP) didn’t help Whitman’s cause.

    But America is aware that their Progressive policies are sending their state into a free fall. Looking on the bright side, they’re an ever-sobering example of the failure of Progressivism.

    NEW POST:

    AMERICA SPEAKS UP LOUD AND CLEAR; OBAMAMANIA IS OFFICIALLY DECLARED DEAD
    http://heir2freedom.blogspot.com/2010/11/america-speaks-loud-and-clear.html

    heir2freedom (d9456e)

  164. DRJ,
    “Just” 40 of 130 races? That sounds like a lot for a political organization that started less than 2 years ago, arguably with Rick Santelli’s Tea Party rant in February 2009.

    That’s also my impression. I was at a Tea Party reception last night, and they are very much focused on grass-roots organizing. So I expect they’ll be very busy this next two years, building up from the block to precinct to community to city, county and state levels.

    Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. (a18ddc)

  165. He actually reminded me a lot of Alvin Greene’s repetitive ‘Demint caused the recession’ manner. Obama didn’t yield an inch, and actually seemed more liberal than ever.

    Speaking of Greene, what happened in his race?

    I’d guess based on the press conference (which I didn’t see–there’s thing called work, you know 🙂 )Obama’s strategy for the next two years will be to blame all problems on the GOP’s refusal to go along with him.

    Speaking locally, Scott beat Sink, so Florida remains firmly in GOP hands. I’ll also warn you not to invest too much hope in Rubio; I expect him to be much more interested in the power and perks than he ought to be. Don’t think that West’s victory was very freakish: it’s a relatively conservative strip full of retirees and snowbirds, and the real freak is that a Democrat managed to hold it for two or three terms in a row. Klein was originally elected by defeating a senior, multi-term Republican (Clay Shaw). For a long time, that district was the most reliably Republican district in South Florida.

    The really paradoxical thing is that Wasserman Schultz and West represent the same county–he’s East Fort Lauderdale (in essence) and she’s the western suburbs of Fort Lauderdale, less than ten miles between the two. In fact, West actually lives in her district (at least for now).

    And the anti-gerrymandering amendments passed here by the required supermajority. There’s no independent commission, only explicit instructions to the legislature on how to draw district boundaries. Unfortunately, there’s an explicit exception for affirmative action districts (so Alcee Hastings can keep being re-elected) and however explicit the instructions are, enough wiggle room to allow for plenty of lawsuits next year.

    kishnevi (225b9d)

  166. And speaking of Debbie W-S, her GOP opponent drew almost 40 percent of the vote, in a pretty underfunded campaign.

    kishnevi (225b9d)

  167. I saw a lot of Harrington signs, in my neck of the woods, About Rubio I think I’d cut him some slack, before attacking him, wait till he’s installed in office for one

    ian cormac (c07a45)

  168. Yeah, but only just – it was ridiculously close, and the only mark against Kirk was his fudging of how many men were under his command while in the military. You should have heard the screeching in the Dem Praetorian guard here (aka Chicago media) on that one. Sheesh.

    Without the nationwide anger over President Obama, the mob banker would be Senator-elect

    The rest of the country should refuse to bail out any of California’s bankrupt pension plans… and so we don’t just shift the money we do get to the unions… not one thin dime until we get our house in order
    We just elected an idiot to the Assembly who thinks more people paid to do recycling counts as a created green job.. ummmm… with whose money?

    If the California state government goes bankrupt, what would be the worst effect? Would people stop growing food? Would ships stop sailing into ports?

    Michael Ejercito (249c90)

  169. Great headline, P.

    Even if the repubs took over the Senate, I think a Repub Congress would have a hard time reversing Obama enough in 2 years to make things significantly better, allowing the one to make a good case that it’s the Republicans at fault. he’ll always make that argument anyway, but it will be harder to amke it stick, while the Repubs should be able to at least put some heavy drag on the Obamanization of the country. It would have been very nice to see Harry Reid go, though.

    As far as AK, I think the biggest issue will be what kind of precedent it sets up for future preliminary battles between more and less conservative Repubs. Someone said that the lesson learned shold be that Tea Party folk need stronger candidates, and the Repub establishment can assist rather than block.

    What I do want to see are Congressional hearings on the sub-prime mortgage market meltdown, aka Fannie and Freddie and Barney and Barry make a mess and blame it on others makes even bigger headlines than the hearings on the misleading claims of Global Warming enthusiasts.

    Someone need to make great parody lyrics to “Hotel California”.

    MD in Philly (3d3f72)

  170. I think we can be assured that Fannie and Freddie are about to undergo an extreme proctological exam –
    especially after this morning’s news that Freddie is reporting a 3Q loss of $2.5B!
    Also, the EPA will be held to the highest level of oversight to make sure there is no back-door cap&tax –
    hearings are being planned as we speak.

    AD-RtR/OS! (3e686d)

  171. Well… I want to thank all you teabaggers out there. Without you, we could not have retained control of the Senate. I know it wasn’t easy … finding candidates extreme and stupid enough that Democrats could beat in such an election year, especially Harry Reed.

    w (9df40f)

  172. Um, W, that’s Reid, not Reed.

    I work here is done.

    Dana (8ba2fb)

  173. Yelverton buggers goats. I have to thank you liberals for allowing a crippled Team R to come back due to your arrogance, condescension, and overall douchenozzlery.

    JD (c8c1d2)

  174. Oh Zamfir, the way that you play that skinflute out of your arse is soooooo kewwllllll. Funny how after predicting disaster for the GOP the past seven days you came back after being taken to the woodshed last night and gang – raped. But then you like that kind of thing, don’t you, Zammy?

    Dmac (ad2c6a)

  175. For a guy who looks about the same size as Gollum but without the intellect, you sure do talk tough, don’t you, Precious?

    Dmac (ad2c6a)

  176. Is he really crowing about the freaking Majority Leader in the Senate barely beating a craptacular candidate.? That is the one takeaway for Yelverton, that they did not lose worse. You lost approximate 65 seats in the House, and at least 6 in the Senate. I guess the midget hilljack plagiarist had to search really hard for a silver lining. Delusional little twit, he is.

    JD (c8c1d2)

  177. Thank you teabaggers, especially JD. Thank you for handing us the Senate.

    w (9df40f)

  178. Thanks, w, for exulting in the re-election of Reid and maintaining a majority of the Senate. I hope it works out for you.

    Since I’m not a Californian, I didn’t post this in the other thread, but it’s a serious question.

    Regardless, and quite seriously. What does California do now?

    I understand why the electorate didn’t vote Republican after the clownship of the Governator.

    But, California is, as an American, our own little failed state. It is Greece, multiplied.

    The electorate has made their choice, which I won’t argue with, but how exactly will these enlightened voters dig themselves out of the ditch that their enlightenment has entailed?

    If they are expecting the bankrupt federal government to take care of it, as evidenced by the re-election of Boxer, they may be disappointed.

    I can’t speak for all Americans, but I can speak for myself, and I’ve got more problems than bailing out a bunch of elitist who continually, consistently tell me how stupid I am as they sink into a morass of debt that simply can’t be repaid.

    If the newly elected Congress lifts a finger to help California, they will be, once again, dealt the same blow that befell them last night.

    I think I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating, California is a beautiful, rich state. There is absolutely no reason for it to be in the shape it is in. If the people there don’t care, I don’t know why I should.

    Ag80 (743fd1)

  179. Ian–
    Are we neighbors? I live in Pembroke Pines.
    (I thought you were from upstate.)

    As for Rubio–I’m extrapolating from his stint as Speaker of the (state) House. If he is better than I think he is–well, I’ll be quite happy to have been wrong on this one.

    kishnevi (2c3adb)

  180. ________________________________________

    But, California is, as an American, our own little failed state. It is Greece, multiplied.

    With a heaping dose of Mexico thrown into the mix. I observe the never-ending mess (the poverty and large underachieving populace) and bloody horror of that nation, and estimate that if more of what’s there ends up being more of what’s here, then California will have to be written off as a major basket case. The good thing about it is if it becomes a warning to the wise.

    Then again, I don’t know if the glaring example of the city of Detroit and Michigan — or sort of a California without the Mediterranean-type climate — have spooked as many Americans (and certainly Californians) as one would think.

    Mark (411533)

  181. W, you really are delusional. The Senate was never in play at all. What little chance there was of taking the Senate existed only because of Tea Party activism. Its what made the Colorado race so close.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  182. Thank you teabaggers, especially JD

    One question – how do you talk with that thingee in your mouth?

    Dmac (ad2c6a)

  183. Given that the Democrats have twice as many Senate seats up for reelection in ’12 than the GOP, the Tea Party will finish its work in the Senate in two years.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  184. No, GOP lost CO because of the the Buck ”bagger.

    w (9df40f)

  185. Handing you the Senate? What exactly did I do that handed you the Senate? You lost lost lost lost lost seats. A lot. And the math is even worse for you next time. You really are a deranged little midget skin flute player. What does MTSU think of plagiarizing? How do my nuts taste?

    JD (c8c1d2)

  186. How do my nuts taste?

    I’d guess pretty good, considering his oral fixation and the constant allusions to “teabagging.” He wants you so bad he just can’t quit you, JD.

    Dmac (ad2c6a)

  187. The Senate was only theoretically attainable if every single thing went perfectly. Some of these seats were extremely powerful Senators like Feingold and Reid.

    We made tremendous headway and the vote was a landslide. We made gains in PA and FA, states Obama needs. We fell short in CA, a state we didn’t have.

    Loquacious D (b54cdc)

  188. Fellas!

    Relax – don’t worry so much about California – it’s been a great 20 or 30 years in the US, for us, and it’s only getting better! Take the time to lift a glass of Cristal and have some Beluga – and celebrate our successes!

    Let’s recap. Our ancient strategies have worked better in recent years in America than almost ever before anywhere. We’ve misdirected the attention of the middle class in the usual way. We’ve played so well on their fears that some of their wealth might be “redistributed” to the disgusting filthy poor people, that they’ve completely failed to notice that we’ve redistributed their wealth to ourselves recently at a rate unmatched since the glory days before the demonic Roosevelts, curse their evil name.

    And as long as we continue to successfully paint any government regulation attempting to rein in the corporate abuses that feed our coffers as our favorite bogeyman of “big government,” that trend isn’t likely to change.

    Lucky for us, there is hardly anyone too marginalized and exploited to find someone as bad off, or even worse off, to direct their hatred and resentment at. When you see Republican bumper stickers on beat-up vehicles at trailer parks, when you see even a small population of ethnic minorities giving their heartfelt support to the people that have always kept them down and always will, you know we have got them completely bamboozled.

    Of course, we need to continue our other classic strategies as well. Religious, social and racial bigotry are tried and true weapons in our arsenal – and we must remember to always portray compassion as weakness, and the millions of people in the 10 or 20% of the population most disadvantaged and disenfranchised from birth as worthless, lazy, dangerous and criminal.

    The American public has demonstrated its venal nature and lack of both foresight and memory in the usual way – as pretty much always in a bad economy, they’ve lashed out at the party in power. And our mouthpieces have done a great job of spinning this into a deeply considered rejection of liberal policies and approaches – bravo!

    A lesson there is that when we destroy an economy with rapacious profit-taking and predatory finance practices, we need to make sure it is so devastated that the opposing party has no chance to clean up the mess in the next executive term period, much less before the next midterm elections.

    Sure, we suffered some setbacks in California, but look at how far we’ve come!

    Our puppet media outlets have succeeded beyond all expectations in exploiting every weakness and gullibility in the public, so much so that now what used to be the mainstream media is playing on our home court out of fear of our minions labeling them as the “liberal” media. Thanks Rupert – a toast to you on that one – damn, this Cristal is even better to drink than it is to bathe in!

    While we’re at it, let’s raise a glass to all the criminally corrupt folk who consistently live up to our worst predictions about the effects of collective bargaining organizations and social services, thus helping us to argue that rank-and-file laborers and professionals should have no voice whatsoever, and that social programs should be abolished.

    After all, most if not all of our family fortunes are largely due to corruption and leeching shamelessly on the fruits of other people’s labor, so these people are kindred spirits, in a way – not that we actually want to see them or be near them, LOL, as if!

    The wonderful thing is, we hardly have to do anything. There have always been a significant number of natural lickspittles in the middle classes, eager to support us in our most heinous offenses against their fellows in their pathetic hope we’ll allow them some of the scraps that fall from our table, while they nurse the absurd and idiotic fantasy that we might someday give them a seat…too funny!

    And the blogosphere has amplified these voices so well! Who could have foreseen it?

    And just look at this Tea Party movement – never in history have the people we exploit shown such frantic eagerness to bend over for us, nor such vicious hatred for anyone that might try to get in the way when we’re about to stick it in – it’s beautiful.

    So, for now, let’s enjoy the good times – it’s always the good times for us, but it’s extra good now!

    We will have to take up some pretty serious business in the next few years, though – we might need to get a good war going – one the people can really get behind, to rev up the economy – after all, it won’t be our kids fighting and dying – hah hah!!!

    Oh – wait – this site – it’s not – is it a site that the little people go to?

    Hey – and you’re not one of us – just one of the lickspittle toadies!

    Oops – oh well – no worries. Not much chance you or any of your adherents would recognize the truth even it is shoved in your face.

    Carry on.

    Aaron S. (809a73)

  189. Could that have any more lies, distortion, canards, or leftist tropes all wrapped up in one giant leftist public masturbation?

    JD (c8c1d2)


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