Thank Catholics for the Huge GOP Victory?

I'm always highly skeptical of election exit poll analysis, since analysts usually overstate the effects of whatever results they choose to highlight. [For example, I could just as easily have made this post about gay voters.] But having said that, I came across an interesting article on the role played by religious voters in this election. The breakdown was similar to the 2008 vote, although Republicans gained overall as you might expect. But there was one glaring difference.

Catholic voters, who had favored Democratic over Republican candidates by double-digit margins in the last two congressional elections, swung to the GOP in 2010.

It's interesting that Catholics would shift more dramatically, and actually switch from majority Democrat to majority Republican support. I'm not sure why Catholics in particular would abandon the Democrats. But whatever the reasons, let's hope that trend continues.

Thank You President Obama

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank President Obama and the Congressional Democratic leadership for making this great GOP electoral success possible. We couldn't have done it without you. Remember back in 2008 when people were trying to write off the GOP? Things looked pretty bleak for Republicans after George Bush and Congressional Republicans had so damaged the GOP brand over eight years. But President Obama and his allies managed to reverse the tide in only two short years, giving us a "historic" Republican victory -- not only a solid majority in the house, but more control over state legislatures than at any time since World War 2 (according to NPR). These short-term gains will be amplified by the upcoming redistricting, with the GOP massively dominating the rewriting of districts, locking in advantages for years to come. I wonder if "historic," Obama's favorite word, will still automatically equal "good" in his eyes.

You'll no doubt hear people trying to pretend that this is all about the economy, and the natural cycle of an off-year election. Feel free to greet that argument with the raucous laughter it deserves. Such a sweeping turnaround in only two years is a devastating rejection of Democratic policies & leadership. The voters have loudly rejected the notion that more government, more spending and a digging a bigger debt hole should be our policy directions. No one is buying Obama's claim that he saved us from a depression, or his imaginary numbers about supposed jobs saved and created. This election was first and foremost about the lousy performance of our Democratic leadership. But given that this president takes no responsibility and looks first to blame others for everything, I don't expect him to get the message.

Waiting for the Spin

No matter what the final results are, tomorrow is going to be occupied with various pundits attempting to put their own spin on the election's outcome. Regardless of how many seats the GOP picks up, I fully expect Democrats to attempt to minimize the scale of their losses or claim to have done better than expected, especially if a couple of their high-profile endangered candidates survive. It should be fun to watch.

No Compromise for the GOP

According to The Hill, "GOP says compromise not on the agenda if they retake the House." I'm skeptical, but I hope they mean it. The vast majority of people voting Republican in this election are not voting to have people compromise with President Obama and the Congressional Democratic leadership. We are voting in an effort to roll-back their policies if possible, or to block anything worse if that's all that can be accomplished. 

Some have disparaged the GOP as the "Party of No," but that's exactly what they should be as long as Obama is in power. With a strong Democratic majority, the administration has been able to ram its policies down our throats. Whatever happens in November, it is almost a certainty that the Democratic majority will be reduced, whether or not Republicans take the House and/or Senate. Those of us voting Republican expect the GOP, whether in minority or majority capacity to do everything possible to obstruct the president's agenda. If the GOP miraculously takes control of Congress, it should attempt to force the president to compromise, and sign on to elements of a Republican-driven agenda. If he won't, they should send up bill after bill and force him to veto. We aren't voting for Republicans in order to have them compromise with Obama. The Republican leadership claims to understand that. Let's hope they've really gotten the message.

A Good Day for the GOP

Various media sources are reporting that Scott Brown has won the special Senate election in Massachusetts. It seems like just yesterday that Democrats were gloating after their underqualified, inexperienced presidential candidate rolled to victory to take total control of the government, with both houses of Congress already in the grip of strong Democratic majorities. Remember all the predictions of doom for the GOP? Yet here we have a Republican winning a Senate seat in the People's Republic of Taxachusetts of all places, the first GOP Senate win there since 1972. Somebody needs to check Ted Kennedy's grave and see how fast he's spinning.

Congratulations to Scott Brown for his amazing upset win, and for showing that the right GOP candidate can compete even in the deepest blue states. And thanks to President Obama and the Democratic Congress for making this possible. Keep up the arrogant attempts to ram through unpopular legislation on a purely partisan basis. Republicans will take all the Democratic help we can get in this year's Congressional elections.

Lesser of Two Evils Day

I just got back from the polls. It was yet another election that involved voting for the lesser of two evils. And, as in most cases, that meant voting Republican. Here in New Jersey, I have no illusions about Republican candidate Chris Christie. His bumbling campaign, his failure to give a straight answer about pretty much any policy question, and the fact that he's already held high state office all leave me completely unenthused about his candidacy. My vote, like that of many others of his "supporters," was purely a vote against John Corzine, a corrupt, lying weasel who stands out even in a state government full of corrupt, lying weasels.

Despite his massive unpopularity and lack of job performance, Corzine closed the gap with a blizzard of negative advertising. He has basically attempted to buy the election, greatly outspending the Christie campaign. The Obama administration, fearing the message that might be sent by a Republican victory in a Democratic state, has been shilling for Corzine, going so far as to lend him campaign staff and management.

Anyone in New Jersey that's uninspired by Chris Christie, and is thinking of staying home or wasting their vote on Chris Daggett, should reconsider. Go out and vote against John Corzine. If that's not enough to motivate you -- and it should be -- consider it a vote against the Obama administration too.