Governor elections and other issues.

[CaptainHaplo]

Well, Nov 3rd, and so far, Virginia has dumped a democratic governor for a republican.

In New Jersey, the votes are still being counted, but it looks like the same will occur there.

Whats even more reassuring, is the NY 23'rd congressional district, in which the republican DROPPED OUT - then turned around to support the democrat - over a "conservative" party candidate. What is exciting about hat? Its the fact that this election may just show people are not just paying attention, but moving beyond the letter beside the name, and looking at the ISSUES.

Other ballot measures are on the radar as well. Gay marriage, everything but "marriage" initiatives, etc. I look forward to seeing the numbers on turnout.

[Zachstar]

Yes Virginia has dumped that sack of crap. Good on them! Assumed he would get the black vote automatically due to Obama support and actively dissed the public option.

There looks to be some upsets as well. But perhaps this is a wakup call to the congress dems that trying to please republicans in an economic crisis is a nogo. If people want repub policies they will vote in repubs. Vise versa with dems and that is what happened.

[CaptainHaplo]

That may have been what happened in the 2008 election - though the results in New Jersey (where Obama campaigned heavily for Corzine recently) shows that it is now a resurgent conservative (not "republican") agenda that has resonated with voters.

CNN projects that NJ has elected a fiscally conservative, smaller government candidate. Given the fact that NJ has always been a liberal stronghold, this is a sign that the hard left agenda isn't resonating with even the "average" democrat.

I really am looking to see the results of the 23rd congressional race.

Edit WASHINGTON (CNN) – With only 21 percent of precincts reporting, Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman leads Democrat Bill Owens. The Republican candidate, Dede Scozzafava, withdrew from the race a few days ago.

[Zachstar]

That could be bad news for the republican party. On one hand you have people who do not accept republicans as fiscally conservative (Because they are not by a long shot they are just anti tax despite the issues with deficit it causes) On the other you seriously do not want your party defined by tea party folks.

However if dems continue this appease the republicans strategy it will cost them BIG in 2010. Reports from Virginia show a general huge amount of apathy in what was assumed to be likely turnouts. If dems cant keep the fire of change going they will see huge losses in 2010.

[nikimcbee]

I've got better things to do tonite, but the looks on the CNN anchor's faces tonite is priceless.
Oh to be a fly on the wall at the whitehouse tonite.

[mookiemookie]

Originally Posted by CaptainHaplo

Well, Nov 3rd, and so far, Virginia has dumped a democratic governor for a republican.

I think that says less about a rejection of liberal policies and more about the fact that if you field a loser of a candidate, don't be surprised when the loser loses.

[CaptainHaplo]

Not "MY" party - I am independant - though I do like seeing people waking up for once.

[Sea Demon]

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

I think that says less about a rejection of liberal policies and more about the fact that if you field a loser of a candidate, don't be surprised when the loser loses.

I believe it says an awful lot about the view that the liberal policies that have been proposed in this country have been totally rejected. Those policies have failed. From the clunkers program, to the actual numbers being projected from liberal healthcare proposals, the quadrupling of the deficits in less than one year, to the fumbling on the war. These elections represent people(independants/dem moderates/lukewarm Republicans) who have seen liberal policies in action, and are making the statement that they want a different direction. Read the polls lately? They indicate most people think this country has gone completely off the track.

The good thing here is that the Democrats go one of two ways from here. They arrogantly continue to pursue radical policies that continue to harm their political reputations, and build further angst against them in future elections. Or they moderate themselves and forget the healthcare junk, and huge spending packages to try to save their skins next go. Either way, liberals lose.

Edited to add: Just got done reading all the comments here. Nice POV's. Haplo is correct. People of all stripes are looking at the issues, not just simple party affiliations. That is a good thing.

[Zachstar]

I disagree. Such a blatant view based on results from flawed candidates in my view does not represent America as a whole.

But I will concede that the current attitude of "cuddle with republicans and blue dogs and somehow profit" needs to change. Again people do not vote dem to get pub. If they want pubs they vote pubs. A 1200 page healthcare bill with a weak ass public option and full of concessions for the insurance industry will not help dems in 2010 unless they get on the ball and start passing measures that have more of an impact now.

The EFCA is still waiting to be passed for instance.

[Zachstar]

Early but it looks like fox has called NY-23 for Owens and it looks like the other one may go dem as well.

That will be a big one for the GOP to chew on.

Ok confirmed that Hoffman has conceded. Congrats dems on salvaging the night. However we need to remember to stop running weak ass candidates and blue dogs and expect repubs to vote dem for just that reason.

Edit: NY-23 has gone dem. And given a pretty bad defeat to the tea party crowd. In my opinion the GOP needs to stop letting tea party folks define their party.

[GoldenRivet]

next stop:

Congress.

[Zachstar]

Originally Posted by GoldenRivet

next stop:

Congress.

A bit early to call officially but I would say dems took both major elections. The NY-23 one being the biggest because of its special circumstances.

Dems got a lesson on running bad candidates that are deep in controversy or bad mouth mainstream Dem ideas.

Repubs got their first major taste of letting tea party folks define their party and lost seats. That is a recoverable defeat but a pretty serious one because they have to learn to calm them down.

If is official and dems took those seats I would say a slight win for dems tonight tho I say again SLIGHT. Only because we can easily stop trying to cuddle to blue dogs.


OK Its been called! CA10 has been called for Jogn Garamendi! 2 seats in the house is no small potatoes! But we could have easilly avoided the 2 state defeats by not acting like a bunch of idiots.

[Sea Demon]

Originally Posted by Zachstar

I disagree. Such a blatant view based on results from flawed candidates in my view does not represent America as a whole.

But I will concede that the current attitude of "cuddle with republicans and blue dogs and somehow profit" needs to change. Again people do not vote dem to get pub. If they want pubs they vote pubs. A 1200 page healthcare bill with a weak ass public option and full of concessions for the insurance industry will not help dems in 2010 unless they get on the ball and start passing measures that have more of an impact now.

The EFCA is still waiting to be passed for instance.

It's actually going top be uphill now for any real liberal policy. The one thing that is going to totally rip apart the dem majority is the economy. People are seriously worried about that, and things are getting worse...not better. Projected unemployment (from the White House) actually is worse than what they originally estimated. We've had some of their economic water carriers calling 10% unemployment the "new norm". Seriously, that doesn't inspire anyone, and admits the flaw. And democrats have been pursuing policies which negatively affect business growth. They are not providing any incentive for growth with the amount of control they have attempted to wrestle away from private sector interests. From forced bailouts, to control of pay issues, it is a disaster. Simply put..with these Democrats in control, it has not been a good business environment. Investors know that. Companies are not taking risks, and expanding operations. That bodes terrible for next year for Democrats. Next year's elections will be here before you know it.

And as GR says, it's time to go after Congress. This is only the first stop.

[Zachstar]

People are not suddenly going to forget about Bush. And if your view was true we would have lost those 2 fed races tonight.

And the investment situation is more due to the lack of willingness from bailed out banks to give loans and the fear of bubbles. Unemployment is still due to the shock of the recession

You know what is funny tho? Dems are talking just like you. Trumpting thoughts like double dip recession and the like.. WTF are dems going to gain from an economic collaspse? Do some of these environmentalist dummies relize that in a serious economic collapse environmentalism will be thrown out the window as people burn what they can to keep warm and keep power?

[Sea Demon]

Originally Posted by Zachstar

People are not suddenly going to forget about Bush. And if your view was true we would have lost those 2 fed races tonight.

People certainly aren't going to forget about the menace currently in the White House now. Bush is gone. Everything going on now is on Obama. This pile of rubble belongs to him and the Democrats in Congress. And with the quadrupling of the deficit and other major problems...they have made things much worse.

And the investment situation is more due to the lack of willingness from bailed out banks to give loans and the fear of bubbles. Unemployment is still due to the shock of the recession

That's certainly a part of it. But people also understand what role government has played into that issue. And it's big. There are people and companies that already have the capital in place but won't expand operations due to the business climate. While there is alot of blame to go around, blame won't fix the economy just so Democrats can be elected next November. Sorry but this growing unemployment problem is simply unacceptable. And businesses are certainly not going to take capital risks with Obama in the White House demonizing businesses, demonizing the capitalist system, proposing tax increases, ending tax incentives for growth, hiring pro-chavez/Mao loving economic czars, and making enemies lists.