Election Night, 2009

How is the Democrats winning the only national race a "wake-up call" for Obama?

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Actually there were two-- in Cali and New York-- and Dems won both.

Democrats won two congressional races; Republicans won two gubernatorial races; and gay rights supporters won a fight in one state while losing in another.

Whether the base will "get" that remains to be seen-- as they're not particularly bright when it comes to grasping the true takeaway.

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As I'm anti-GOP for the most part, I meant the base of the Republican party, of course, that assumed they had a referendum to purge mods from the party.

. Who knows it might even help rebuild it . . .

Posted by: Tom | Nov 4, 2009 2:18:37 AM

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Okay, I'm sorry, but you have to warn someone when you're going to say something absurd (given the state of the Republican party and the fact that McDonnell hid his social conservative side to run as a moderate-- not conservative--republican). I almost spit coffee all over my laptop due to the sudden laughter that bubbled up.

The Dems have to rebuild? That is hilarious. We need to re-energize and make sure we're selecting good candidates (better than Corzine) who run good campaigns (better than Deeds). I do think those are important takeaways. I keep wondering if it would have made a difference if good ole Terry had been the Dem candidate in the general in Va, for example. The problem in NJ was that Corzine was unpopular and he's a Wall Street type. One doesn't have to be a genious to know the Wall Street type is a hard sell this year. I'm surprised the race was as tight as it was. I didn't like either candidate. In VA, McDonnell ran a very good and very positive race, positioning himself as a moderate. The tide that was turned there was that a Republican ran a better, tighter and fairly clean campaign and won. Whether the base will "get" that remains to be seen-- as they're not particularly bright when it comes to grasping the true takeaway. The Dem party--as far as I can tell-- fully realizes it has to get health care, energy, financial reform and job bills passed, and the recovery has to grow some legs, move into the private sector, and then we can start wacking at the deficit. At the outset, given the hand we were dealt that was always going to take at least 18 months. Some nice things for the base would be good too like repealing DADT and DOMA. The President also has to make a wise decision on Afghanistan, get Gitmo closed, deal with Bagram and start drawing down troops in Iraq. If all that is looking good, and people get back to work, 2010 will be a cakewalk. The economy is of course the number one thing-- and health care reform needs to get done.

On a sidenote, I have to agree with Tierra on the NY House seat. Can't say I'm not happy to gain another House seat for the party of ideas and hope and the common good. And it's kinda funny, given all the hoopla, that at the end of the day, Owens won. It cracks me up that folks like Fascist and ceeleelee see the night as a time for strutting and gloating.

I'm actually most bummed about the vote in Maine to repeal gay marriage. That's no tide change, btw. It's just sad-- and it actually embarrasses me that some of my fellow Americans are so backward.

It was very clear through polling that there was no referendum on Obama.

What matters here is that the Obama Brand took a hit here. He showed up and campaigned for both Democratic Candidates and it wasn't enough to close the deal.

There are two brands at stake here: (1) you have the Campaigning Obama and (2) the Governing Obama.

The ether of the Campaigning Obama is wearing off because, well, he has actually done some things since taking office. The "done some stuff" is tough to get past even for a Brand that worked without that previously. That's amazing part: he had never actually done anything before running for President - a degree from Harvard, some community service, some connections on the South Side of Chicago and got elected to the Senate. He sold the American public anyway. He developed a hell of a Brand and he sold it lock, stock and barrel.

Problem is this Governing part is a tad more complicated and just a little more controversial. Turns out that some of the people in the flock are actually listening to the details. More importantly, the biggest part of the flock are concerned with the actual results. If the results basically s*uck then they don't care if the guy you are endorsing was Born in the Manger you're patting him on the back doesn't mean squat.

No question the Campaigning Obama had some real traction but the Governing Obama is floundering. (Of course, not only are his policies unpopular there is an undercurrent out there that has suggested he might have BS'd us a time or two. In a word, if the Snake Oil ain't working at some point they stop buying it.)

It is pushing it to say this is some kind of referendum for the WH and the Obama Brand. These were local races that had all kinds of issues at stake that were core to the outcome. Best case it was an indicator that the Campaigning Obama is not enough there has to be some actual results that people can get their arms around to make it work.)

To keep people buying the product "the snake oil has to actually work."

"However, Obama and his supporters need to realize that there IS change in the air and it may not be beneficial to them. People are very angry and frustrated and Obama should not pretend that the anger and frustration does not exist.

What happened tonight should serve as his wake-up call that all in not well with the electorate."

-ceeLeelee

How is the Democrats winning the only national race a "wake-up call" for Obama? A wake-up call of what? That we're in good enough shape to expand our majority in Congress even further?

Last time I checked, neither the NJ nor VA Governor gets a vote in Congress, so what does the outcome of those races have to do with Obama? To claim that the GOP losing a seat it's held for over a century isn't about Obama, but two Governors races are is beyond the bounds of reality. This is the type of GOP insanity that will guarantee continued Democratic victories.

By the way Tom . . .

Did you notice the congressional seat the Democrats won tonight had been in Republican hands since the Civil War!

What an embarrassing defeat for the Republicans and a stunning victory for the Democrats and Obama.

So much for Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh and their fellow Republicans. Rejected.

The Governors races are particular with local issues and regionally oriented.

The New York congressional seat is more of a federal mandate and a mini-election on the Obama/Democratic administration.

And it's a seat the Republicans held for a long time - AND LOST TONIGHT.

Democrats won it and its a strong vote in favor of the current administration.

"Tierra, I just did. You can contact the State Attorneys of the States I mentioned with the dates I provided. The balls in your court now."
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It was a simple request Tom. The source and the date for the information you posted.

Sorry this is so difficult for you. Makes me think you are ashamed of the source, or you don't have one.

What is the source and the date for the information you posted Tom?

Tierra, I just did. You can contact the State Attorneys of the States I mentioned with the dates I provided. The balls in your court now.

You know, instead of always putting yourself out on the line for your favorite party it wouldn't hurt every now and then to be critical of your beloved Party, Obama, and its affiliates. Who knows it might even help rebuild it . . .

Wow. This congessional seat the Democrats won tonight had been in Republican hands since the Civil War!

What an embarrassing defeat for the Republicans and a stunning victory for the national Democrats and Obama.

So much for Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh and their fellow Republicans. Rejected.

Ron -

I am keeping my eye on the ball.

However, Obama and his supporters need to realize that there IS change in the air and it may not be beneficial to them. People are very angry and frustrated and Obama should not pretend that the anger and frustration does not exist.

What happened tonight should serve as his wake-up call that all in not well with the electorate.

I have to call it a night. You have a good one. :)

'We Won."
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Not really. Governors races are particular and out of the mainstream.

The New York congressional seat is more of a federal mandate and a mini-election on the Obama/Democratic administration.

And it's a seat the Republicans held for a long time - AND LOST TONIGHT.

Democrats won it and its a strong vote in favor of the current administration.

"We got New Jersey (the blue state turned red) and Virginia..."

Goody for you. What are you going to do with them? :-) Those are state governerships. As I don't live in either Virginia or New Jersey, I don't have a heck of a lot of stake in how they run those states. But NY-23... that affects me. The Democrats now have one more member in the House of Representatives than they had yesterday.

Keep your eye on the ball, friend. :-)

Tiera -

You can have Owens. We don't care.

We got New Jersey (the blue state turned red) and Virginia.

We Won.

The 23rd District is dying,with little if any job growth and no future. Outside of Alex. Bay in the summer the only industry is Ft. Drum. The District went heavily for Obama; it has sunk into a dependency mode that suits Democrat candidates.Still,it will be interesting to see the results in 2010 if it is a two-candidate race.

"A huge tide tide turned tonight. A Sea Change has occurred."
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You've got it wrong again Facsist. Not unusual.

ALBANY, N.Y. — Democrat Bill Owens has captured the special election for a New York congressional seat that became a fight over the identity of the Republican Party.

Owens defeated Conservative Doug Hoffman.

Hoffman has conceded the race.
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Looks like another Democratic congressperson.

A huge tide tide turned tonight. A Sea Change has occurred. All of us know it. The White House knows it. Everyone knows it.

The most fun part of all will be watching the strained efforts of the losers at denying what they know right down to the very tips of their toes: Hope and Change is now a joke, and serious people will gradually take charge again.

Remember this day, Goofballs: the day before yesterday was your peak, and things will be increasingly bad for you from now on. But cheer up: although it's bad for you, it's good for America.

ALBANY, N.Y. — Democrat Bill Owens has captured the special election for a New York congressional seat that became a fight over the identity of the Republican Party.

Owens defeated Conservative Doug Hoffman.

Hoffman has conceded the race.
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Gee, and that was a seat previously held by the Republicans for a long time . ..

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More juvenile name calling . . . yawn.

Hmmm, looks like the regular "party faithful" are not putting in an appearance on the blogs tonight.

It's really not very sporting of them to not offer congratulations on our win.

:D :D :D :D :D

Do you want me to go on?
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Yes, Tom. You seem like a legitimate guy. Please give the source and date of the information you post.