Obama Wasn't Liberal ENOUGH!

Is there anyone more clueless than Katrina vanden Heuvel about Tuesday's election?

Now look - I don't think Republican's ought to be gloating about this victory.  It's wonderful, thrilling, and historic, but (and I hate this expression...) let's be clear about what it is.  It was a referendum against Obama's far left socialist type agenda.  Americans across the country made that clear in their Tea Party protests, their town hall meetings, and their various marches on Washington. 
Yet here is vanden Heuvel:

This was an unearned win for the Republican Party. The election was fundamentally about one thing—the rotten economy—and Democrats paid the price as voters expressed their discontent. Conservatives in both parties who claim the vote represented an ideological shift to the right are plain wrong.

She's missing the fact that, in truth, America is a center-right nation.  The far left agenda of this administration is simply overreach.   There was no shift - she's right about that.  Just a return to the norm.

No, according to vanden Heuvel, the opposite is true:  the Democrats lost because they weren't liberal enough:

The quickly congealing conventional wisdom is that President Obama tried to do too much and was too liberal. The opposite is true: Voters were alienated because they didn't believe his team had fought aggressively enough for the interests of working- and middle-class citizens. 

A frightening thought, to be sure. She says the Stimulus was inadequate.  It should have been more and it's the darn Republicans fault that it wasn't. To vanden Heuvel and other Democrats I've heard since Tuesday, it's still all about the economy.  This is a message they'd do well to rethink unless they want to lose control of the Senate as well; Americans are indeed concerned about jobs and the economy.  That's what we wanted Obama to focus on rather than a massive health care takeover and government power grab.

And I'm not sure which Obama she's been listening to when she claims the president "remains committed to a politics of 'civility and common ground'."  I don't think he ever looked for much common ground ("I won!")  and I haven't seen any civility lately.  I recall him calling me an "enemy" just last week and telling me to "sit in the back" of the bus he's trying to drive over the cliff.

No, vanden Heuvel demands he fight for government that benefits the "majority of Americans" but the majority spoke Tuesday night, and they're tired of his helping them.  He's NOT helping them.  Obama's policies are about to further cripple the economy, job growth and raise taxes come January.

I don't need that kind of help and clearly that's what Americans were rejecting Tuesday.

Added:  Oh wait...in answer to my own question, I see there IS someone more clueless, or at least as clueless.   Looks like Paul Krugman and vanden Heuvel got the same talking points this week:

Mr. Obama’s problem wasn’t lack of focus; it was lack of audacity. At the start of his administration he settled for an economic plan that was far too weak. 

Not liberal enough.

I'm not always the brightest color in the box, so someone might ought to explain this one to me:

And when Mr. Obama took office, America had just suffered its worst financial crisis since the 1930s. What the nation needed, given this grim prospect, was a really ambitious recovery plan. Could Mr. Obama actually have offered such a plan? He might not have been able to get a big plan through Congress, or at least not without using extraordinary political tactics

With a Democratic majority at the time, why couldn't he have gotten it through Congress?  He showed no aversion to "extraordinary political tactics" when it came to ramming ObamaCare down our throats.

Krugman and vanden Heuvel's advice to Obama to dig in and "take a stand" is likely what he will do, and that's fine, too.  2012 is just around the corner.

Will He Compromise?

There are a couple of interesting reviews of Obama's post-election speech out today.

The first comes from Victor Davis Hanson:

In clingers fashion, he once more is talking down to us, explaining that we confused his necessary solutions with a bogeyman increase in big government, and so typically, in fright and ignorance, lashed out at his party. He is claiming the outrage grew from the same frustration that elected him, rather than arising precisely because of him and his agenda. In short, we are angry because his EU-socialist agenda is progressing too slowly and hasn’t delivered as promised — as it will in time. Perhaps then we will thank him for his proper big-government, big-spending solution.

Obama had a truly befuddled and confused look on his face which is understandable given the fact the he truly doesn't understand why he took the "shellacking" that he did.  He can't get his narcissistic head around the fact that it was his policies that were rejected Tuesday night and his agenda.  The public was not rejecting George W. Bush Tuesday; they did that already.  They were rejecting ObamaCare, the stimulus, and the anti-business policies of this administration.

George Neumayr, writing for American Spectator, has a similar take:

Obama couldn't bring himself to admit the obvious, that his liberalism leaves the American people unafraid of alternatives, so instead we got the usual self-serving nonsense about how the American people like the content of liberalism but just resist it in times of distress when Democrats fall down at salesmanship and implementation. In one answer, he even had the audacity to suggest that the American people were too dumb to realize that his bailout-style socialism was only temporary and not a permanent policy. Where could they have possibly gotten that idea?

One other thing that I noted was Obama's nice little story about the tree farmer who asked him if civility in discourse is now dead and Obama  lamented the fact as well.  Yet just 48 hours before Obama himself had called Republicans "the enemy" who needed to "sit in the back" of the bus.  Obama said the time to re-legislate and look back has passed yet four minutes later he was blaming Bush again for his troubles.  


Everything has an expiration date.  Obama might have been reflective and might have promised to "compromise" but I don't expect him to stick with that.  This is the man that also said he'd rather have one strong, good term as president than two mediocre ones.  


I hope I'm wrong; I hope he comes to the center as others who've been "shellacked" before him have done, and try to work to enact the will of the American people, but I'd be surprised. 

The Post Election Presser

The shorter version of Obama's hour long post-election press conference is that he thinks he's already been trying to compromise with Republicans, that getting ObamaCare passed was messy but the ends justify the means, and that he's going to continue to pursue Cap and Trade, either with official legislation or without it.  The whole problem and the reason he got smacked last night is because the economy sucks and that's Bush's fault.  Americans just don't understand.

There were way too many car and ditch metaphors and talk of a Slurpee Summit but in the end, he just doesn't understand what Americans are so angry about.

He complained about being "in a bubble" and out of touch in the White House and vows to get out more.  Some golf, maybe.  Or a $200 million a day trip to India (when a teleconference would suffice.)

I don't see any change on his part on the horizon.


(Photo Credit: AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Post-Election Thoughts (UPDATING ...)

What a great day to be an American!

I participated in Professor Jacobson's live blog event last night as a panelist so this blog was quiet for the most part. The good Professor reports that over 2500 participants took part in that event and I can attest that it was good fun. It was fun watching the returns with a bunch of other giddy people!  You never know what kind of things you'll learn etither; I learned that it's Paul Revere and not Sam Adams on the label of my beer bottle. 

Anyway, like the Professor, I'll have some thoughts through they day about last night, but for now, there's not enough caffeine in the house.  I do have a couple of loose thoughts I want to record, however:

1.  The biggest thrill of the night had to be Marco Rubio's victory.  It was not a surprise as in the final days Rubio was really pulling away in the polls.  But what a wonderful speech Rubio delivered and what a bright future he has!  Thank you Florida!  Thank you for voting for Marco Rubio.

2.  John Boehner's speech:  I've never seen such an emotional Boehner although reports are that he is quite an emotional guy and does that often.  I liked the response by Fuzzy Slippers in the Live Blog stream in Boehner's defense:  he's worked hard his entire life and has never been given a pass.  This really means something to him.  He knows its importance.

3.  I was following a lot of the House races in the southern region (where I live) and was caught by a couple that flipped back and forth all night and stayed very, very close.  Neither was decided when I finally went to bed last night.  One was the AL-02 race with Bobby Bright (D) and Martha Roby (R).  Roby finally prevailed in that race with 51.1% of the vote.  By most accounts, the Democrat, Bright, is as conservative a Democrat as you're likely to find.  He voted against the stimulus, against Cap and Trade, against the health care bill.  He had raised a lot more money than Roby, yet she prevailed.  The district is primarily Republican but has a tendency to vote Democrat at state and local levels, so it could be considered an upset that Roby won.

The other race I had my eye on that was very close was the TX-27 race where the incumbent Solomon Ortiz (D) was defeated by Republican Blake Farenthold by a final vote of 47.9% to 47.1%.  This race is a real testament to the notion that every vote counts.  Don't ever think your vote doesn't matter.  It does.

4.  The Nevada race was a disappointment.  I was so sorry that Reid won, but in looking for the bright side I suppose it will keep Republicans on their toes and will keep the Tea Party energized.  In his speech last night Reid said, "Americans have chosen the politics of hope over the politics of fear!"  That sea of red on the maps now sure looks like hope to me!

5.  The Florida Governor's election is has not yet been decided.  Hmmmm.

My brain needs caffeine.  I'll be back.  Here are some thoughts from others in the meantime:

Michelle Malkin has her post-election column.
Professor Jacobson has some random thoughts.
Stacy McCain & Smitty were live-blogging and have some insight.
Michael Barone has some post-election analysis.

And, as always, Memeorandum has exploding, ongoing threads on the aftermath of last night's wave.

Update:  Scratch No. 5 above, Dem. Alex Sink just gave a concession speech.

Update #2:  Good grief, I just noticed that CA re-elected Pete Stark 71.5% to 28.5% over Forest Baker.  Incredible.  Good Lord almighty I just don't have the words.  Good luck out there, folks.

Update #3:  The caffeine is helping.  But now I have a headache:  TX-18 went to Sheila Jackson Lee. Good grief.  Lunacy.  Like the Stark race in CA, it wasn't even close.  70.2% to 27.3%.  Oh well, at least she's never dull (I mean, boring.)

Update #4:  Arizona 07 and 08, both southern border counties, both went, or are leaning, Democrat.  You can draw all kinds of conclusions from that.  This handy-dandy map is great.  In the Senate, three races are still too close to call.

Update #5:  The Republican Leadership press conference:  Mitch McConnell and Boehner both declare themselves ready to "listen to the American people" and are ready to "turn the ship around" on the Obama agenda.  McConnell:  "Ignoring the voters and their wishes...produces predictable results." McConnell said, "Choosing the president over your constituents is not a good strategy."

To Democrats, McConnell suggests they listen to the voters and work with Republicans.

Haley Barbour is there also to comment on the governor's races which he says is a referendum on Obama's policies.  "The voters yesterday voted against excessive spending, piling on of deficits...huge tax increases coming in January and a takeover of the health care system." 

Boehner says Pelosi called him this morning and left him "a very nice voicemail" and he expects a smooth transition.

He also says "continuing all the current tax rates for all Americans is the right policy at this time."

One thing Boehner says is very true:  there are more people engaged in American government right now than ever.  People are finally paying attention.  McConnell points out that this is just a "first step" in changing direction for Washington.  Further change can happen in 2012; he also points out there will still have to be bi-partisan agreement to get things done.

Update #6:  Althouse had a fun live-blog last night.

Live Blog Event

I'm over at Legal Insurrection this evening as one of Prof. Jacobson's panelists.  C'mon over there and follow the results with us there! Join in the discussion.

I voted about 4:00 this afternoon; it's been raining off and on all day but the turnout has been very, very good I was told. 

Did you vote?

Remember to Vote!

It's raining here, naturally.  That won't stop me though.  Go vote! 

With Apologies to Clement Clarke Moore

Twas the night before the election when all through the land
Not a liberal was stirring as they sat on their hands;

Sample ballots were marked by the voters with care
In hopes that the wave soon would be there.

The Republicans were nestled all snug in their beds
While visions of takeovers danced in their heads

And Nancy with her Botox and Harry's face all stern
Had just settled down for a long night's returns

When out at the polls there arose such a clatter
They sprang from their beds to see what was the matter.

Away to their pollsters they ran like a flash
To see what Republicans were left they could smash

When what to their wondering eyes should appear
But a Republican majority and power so dear

A look at their TVs, so lively and quick
They knew in a minute their trouble was thick.

More rapid than rockets the returns as they came
And we whistled and shouted and called them by name:

Now Rubio, now Raese, now Carly and Angle,
On Kirk, on Bielat, on Ayotte and O'Donnell!

To the top of the charts, to the top of the Hill!
Now dash away, dash away, oh what a thrill!

As the liberals before the Tea Party flies
They blame George Bush then begin to cry

So up to the Hill the Republicans flew
With a Pledge for America and a new Speaker too.


Okay, okay.  You get the idea.  Not One Red Cent is not one to count our chickens and all that  but the predictions are looking fine for tomorrow's returns.  Thanks today to Professor Jacobson for the shout out of our work there.

Now dash away, dash away, dash away all, AND VOTE!

(Cross posted at Not One Red Cent!)

Monday Sift

Smitty at The Other McCain has done a "smashing" job on the Politico hit piece on Sarah Palin this morning; I'll point you on over there to take a look because his analysis is spot on.  You've got to love that Politico headline:  "Next For GOP Leaders:  Stopping Sarah Palin" and the accompanying photograph is, of course, Palin with her mouth agape.

Also of interest today is David Freddoso's guide to tomorrow night's election returns.  I printed it out so I could read it in closer detail later today - 13 pages.  Very detailed!

And at Hot Air, here's your handy dandy printable checklist.

It was fun to see this last night:



Steve and I gave out candy to trick or treaters until we decided that if you're above the age of 18 and can't bother to dress up, we probably shouldn't be giving you candy.  We went inside to watch the World Series.  Depressing.  C'mon Rangers!

Have a nice Monday.

Early Voting Data May Bode Well for Republicans.

Is this a sign of things to come across the nation Tuesday or just a sign of things in Florida:

Of the more than 1.9 million Floridians who had voted through Friday, nearly 275,000 more Republicans than Democrats had cast their votes either by absentee ballot or at an early voting site.

Via NRO's Battle 10 blog, the enthusiasm gap in Florida is huge.  The gubernatorial race there is very, very close; the Florida Senate race is not quite as close.  In fact, it's probably less close now than it was yesterday with Crist now vowing to caucus with Democrats.  Of course, you can't believe that because you can't believe anything he says, but it's probably a safe bet.

In Nevada where the Reid/Angle race is still very close, reports there indicate "no enthusiasm gap whatsoever."   Of couse, that report was from Phoebe Sweet of the Nevada State Democratic Party.  A Democratic political consultant was quoted in The Hill as saying that Republicans vote early and Democrats vote on election day.

Locally, early voting was higher than normal as well.  Caddo Registrar of Voters Ernie Robertson said over 4,000 ballots were cast which was "on the higher end" of what he expected.  Early voting in Bossier Parish was also brisk.

Jim Geraghty did a post on some of the national numbers last week which seems to bode well for Republicans.  But again, it depends on who you ask.

Of course, we'll know Tuesday.

Honore Says He's Not Running in 2010

Last night, retired Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honore spoke in Shreveport at the NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet. I'm quoting the bulk of the local paper's coverage of his speech:

"On this day, 9-11, we saw some eight years ago what happened when the enemy attacked our country and killed over 3,000 of our citizens," he opened his talk. "Shortly thereafter, the president of these United States opened a big old cap of whup-ass to go out and deal with the people who came to this country and indiscriminately killed our people.

"And these people we are fighting, we fight them today," Honore said. "Listen to me here: They are our enemies. If they were here tonight, under sharia law, first of all, none of the women would be in this room. And none of you would have the opportunity for education. So don't get confused with some of the things you hear on why we're doing what we need to do in Afghanistan, although it may be a little bit late."

Honore noted that soldiers of 200 years ago fought for a promise of freedom and equality in the Declaration of Independence, even though many were not free.

"Some were indentured, some were slaves, but they fought for a promise that took over 200 years to even come close to fruition. They fought for a promise, an idea, of freedom."

He contrasted that to today, where problems on Wall Street and Main Street have whalloped the elderly, poor and disadvantaged on what he called "Railroad Street."

Honore pointed to the drugs and lack of discipline that have left people today ill-equipped to work.

A video of him in action during Hurricane Katrina drew applause, especially when one segment noted how he had noticed a mother with young twin babies and had ordered the youngsters airlifted to safety.

But in his talk, Honore gave a somber backstory. He said that woman, only about age 18 or 19, had children with blood streaming from their faces; and another woman in the same incident had children in distress.

"What I wanted to know was where were those children's daddies? And who raised them?"

His tone assured that had he met those absent fathers who had abandoned women and children to the ravages of a killer storm, the result would not have been pretty.

Honore also peppered it with admonitions to elected leaders to take initiative to provide jobs, encourage education and prod people and businesses to take basic steps to assure their own survival in the wake of the next inevitable crisis, be it a hurricane or a tornado.

One thing city leaders could do, he pointedly told Shreveport Mayor Cedric Glover, is require pharmacies and gas stations to have emergency generators so two basic building blocks of society don't go belly up when the lights go out. "Mr. Mayor, you can make it happen."

Louisiana Weekly, one of the local sources who suggested Honore might challenge Vitter in 2010, reported this week that Honore has no intention of running against Vitter. In fact, Honore tells Louisiana Weekly, "I am not running for office...I never delcared myself as a Republican during the Reagan administration. I have never lived in Zachary [Louisiana]" as initial reports claimed.

In the end, it seems as if Vitter's only challenger is Melancon who is no challenger at all.