Choosing Drapes and Sour Grapes – Reflections on Midterm Elections

[Sal316]

Well, the 2006 mideterm elections are barely over and already sour grapes are being spewed from the GOP. "Democrats didn't win, the GOP lost!" "The Dems only won because they ran conservative candidates!" "They'll do nothing but investigate and waste money!" "This is a truly disgusting night. Outside of 9-11, I cannot think of a worse day. I really want to hurt somebody." Even some conservative talking heads are already looking to hang the Iraq failure upon the Democrats.

Sounds to me like someone was expecting merlot and got ripple.

I know how it feels to be on the losing side in an election. First of all, I live in Arizona, not the friendliest state to Democrats. Second, I understand where these statements are coming from, because when you get crushed, you'll tell yourself anything to make yourself feel better.

Let's deconstruct some of these brand new talking points, before they mature.

1) Only 'conservative' democrats won.

Horsehockey. If that were true, then why did we not lose a single incumbent in this election?

2) Lieberman's win proves liberals are out of touch.

No. Joementum won 75% of the GOP vote in CT. The GOP candidate won 10% of the total vote. "The left" didn't put Joe in Senate, the GOP did.

3) It wasn't a 'historic' night.

Yes, yes it was. The Democrats now hold a majority in the house, a majority in the Senate (if Webb's 8000 vote lead holds), a majority of the Governorships, and a majority of the State Legislatures.

4) The Democrats don't have a plan.

Wrong yet again! In the first 100 hours, the Democrats plan to put new rules in place to "break the link between lobbyists and legislation.", enact the recommendations of the 9/11 commission (which the GOP Congress refused to do), raise the federal minimum wage to $7.25, cut the student loan interest rate in half, allow the government to negotiate directly with the pharmaceutical companies for lower drug prices for Medicare patients, and broaden the types of stem cell research allowed with federal funds.

That's just in the first 4 days.

5) All the democrats will do is hold investigations.

Good. It's called "oversight". Something the GOP has abdicated over the last 6 years. No investigations into contractor fraud in Iraq, Cheney's energy policy, GOP arm twisting for votes on the floor, the Downing Street Memos, Foley, Abramoff.... the list goes on and on.

To my conservative bretheren I say - enjoy wallowing in the world you created for the minority party. A world with no subpoena power, no ability to hold hearings, no voice, no rights, and no responsibilities. They say Karma is a bitch, well, it just made you hers.

One astute poster on FreeRepublic summed up the GOP mood perfectly.... "We are screwn!"

Congratulations Madam Speaker. You may pick out your drapes now.