Wipe Out

Various conservative radio hosts opened with that Beach Boys song today, which put a much needed smile on my face.

If Hoover's 55 seat loss in 1932 is considered the 20th Century high water mark for obliteration, and the 53 seats of Gingrich was considered a "revolution", then 60 seats is an absolute massacre. However, the clear winner was not the GOP, and certainly not the Democrat Party, but rather the Tea Party. I concur with Titus' observations (including Palin's personal triumph as the new Party power broker). The Tea Party movement, bent on putting forth principled over "polished" candidates via the primary system, was an overwhelming success, overall. There were losses (no movement nor Party can bat 1000), such as Angle, McMahn and O'Donnel (to be honest, anytime a candidate starts a commercial with, "I'm not a which", you have problems); but the big stars such as Rubio, Rand, Toomey and all the House victories far outshined such losses.

Some nuts and bolts observations. ... First, nicely done in Pennsylvania. From NEPA to South West Wisconsin Obama was destroyed throughout the industrial heartland. The rust belt is pissed, and it showed. Feingold was a big knock off and I think what's very telling is Illinois. They're still counting the governor's race, but Obama's former seat went Republican (and in fact the governor's race being "too close to call" is a win in and of itself in a state that's such a dark shade of blue). Illinois conjers up shades of Al Gore and Tennessee, if you ask me. If you can't win at home, what does 2012 look like? And that's the other big thing, the governor's and state legislature races. It appears there were 19 turnovers for each, meaning redistricting powers, and the 10th Amendment revival potential. And it denies Obama a top ticket machine ground game for 2012 in states he simply must win to win reelection - Ohio and PA. I can't stress how proud I am of the industrial heartland. They recognized that at a time when "jobs" were the focus of the nation, anything but was the focus of the man they helped put in the White House, and they let him know. Perhaps Titus is not as alone as he thought. Even Chris Matthews (a PA guy himself) had to yield noting that, "If Obama thinks he can win reelection with the 2 coasts and money from Silicon Valley, he's sorely mistaken." I also think Rep John Boehner (R) Ohio, presumptive Speaker of the House, set a very appropriate tone. Happy, but not exuberant, not in the least. He recognized that the people "sent DC a message", which to me was acknowledging the Tea Party/grass roots GOP frustration with their leadership. And on a human level, I think it didn't fully hit him that he was to become 3rd in line to the presidency until the middle of last nights speech. He got seriously choked up, tears formed, and he had to take a moment as he described how grateful he was to a nation that would allow a man of modest means to achieve the position he was about to take.

So overall it was a spectacular victory, the Tea Party lays down their marker for success, and as Titus aptly noted, the only people they will oppose more than Democrats come 2012 are Republicans that don't follow through with the agenda they were handed last night. Compromise is off the table, we voted for an emergency break.

So that's the good side.

Nevada. I can't breeze past this because it sticks in my craw and is the only painful loss (personally) of the night. My friend (although that may be stretching the definition of our relationship) Danny Tarkanian would have won, I believe. I just can't explain the Harry Reid victory, but I'll try. MGM backed him lock, stock and barrel. So did Harrahs. Including each of these properties providing "Vote for Reid buses" as transportation to the polls, right outside the employee entrances (I didn't personally witness this so it's hear say thus far, but reliable hearsay). It's of questionable legality, but who's going to raise the issue? Nobody, that's who. That's the two largest businesses in the state, period. Wynn hates Reid, but he never took to Sharron Angle. And in my unscientific poll/analysis I just think that in a town where women are still referred to as "broads", and gangsters (the "fellas" as they're called out here), are looked on fondly, that Angle was just a round peg in a square hole. Reid owns the unions, and he kept Obama's 2008 machine in place, and on the ground. The key to his victory was winning Clark County so huge. Angle lined up more square miles behind her, but Reid lined up more people, and since Senate races are not some mini electoral college, winning the metropolitan popular vote was enough for Reid. Now what raises my eyebrow is who else won - the first Latino governor, a solid conservative named Brian Sandavol, not to mention 2 of the 3 congressional districts (1 a turnover) went GOP; as well as reducing the Dem majority in the State legislature. So you're telling me people actually went into the ballot booth and checked off Reid's name (the first choice on the ballot was for Senate), and then went down the line voting for Republicans? A split ticket? How does that make sense? Reid was unofficially portrayed in the movie Casino, as that Gaming Commission Chair that took "goodies" from mobsters, and made secret deals as DeNeiro's character wined and dined him. His mafia nick name was "clean face", as the rumors go around here. So Reid has a long record of questionable, under the table dealings (after all, how does a man on a government salary his entire adult life, 40 years, amass a net worth of 12.7 million dollars?). So, I wouldn't put anything past Reid and his machine. I mean everyone knows, nothing shady or underhanded ever happens in Las Vegas, NV, RIGHT? But it will never be investigated, never pried into to, for as the commercial states: what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. And for now, we let Harry Reid stay, the only real regrettable event amidst a sea of victories last night.

I will say this though - if Reid retaining his seat, and thus the Majority Leader position / face of the senate, contributes to Obama's loss in 2012 (Reid's a PR trainwreck, nationally his numbers are under 15%), it will have been worth it. Nevada conservatives will gladly bare that shame if it translates into winning the White House. How's that for positive spin? Ha!