A good night for Reed, a better night for Republicans
Well isn’t that interesting….
Here in Atlanta, Mary Norwood doesn’t really come close to winning without a runoff, and as I noted yesterday, that means she could be in real trouble against Kasim Reed, who closed with a lot of momentum.
Nationally, it was a good night for the Republicans, winning the governor’s office in both Virginia and New Jersey. The shocker of the evening came in New York’s 23rd congressional district, where voters defied the pollster predictions by electing Democrat Bill Owens over conservative movement favorite Doug Hoffman.
That could turn out to be the most important victory of the night for Republicans. It injects life back into what remains of the GOP’s moderate wing, and it forces the conservative movement to swallow a little humble pie and possibly reconsider their self-destructive, smaller-is-better strategy.
In recent weeks, the conservatives have touted the race as a referendum on Obama and the Republican Party’s future; instead, it turned into a referendum about themselves and their tactics, and the voters’ verdict on those matters was pretty clear.
UPDATE: I should also note the disappointing results coming out of Maine, where voters by a margin of 53-47 voted to rescind a gay-marriage law passed by the Legislature. The politicians got out a little ahead of the people on that one, but the people are coming along pretty quickly. We’re getting there, but clearly we’re not there yet.
UPDATE II: Voters in Washington state, on the other hand, narrowly confirmed a law passed by their legislators giving gay couples all the legal rights and protections of marriage but under the title of domestic partnership.
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334 comments Add your comment
Rightwing Troll
November 4th, 2009
6:13 am
first
Rightwing Troll
November 4th, 2009
6:16 am
So I guess up there in NY 23 National politics DOESN’T trump local politics.
The flat earthers purged one who wasn’t quite backwards enough for them, even though that’s who the locals there supported, and here we see the results.
Bwahahahhahahahaha….ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
jt
November 4th, 2009
6:30 am
God-
I just love the smell of democratic charred egos in the morning.
josef nix
November 4th, 2009
6:41 am
Can’t stay, gotta run, Angry Black Man said it best last p.m. Asking this bunch here to play nice and keep a civil tongue in your heads would be a lost cause! But do try to make Jay’s and the Evil Moderator’s life a little easier…
I Report :-) You Whine :-( Ate Up With Envy mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
November 4th, 2009
6:44 am
The polls weren’t even close-
A 24 percentage point swing for Republicans in Virginia from 2008.
Ditto in New Jersey, knocking down a string of democrat victories dating back a quarter of a century.
New York’s odd little race, where the Republican dropped out and endorsed the democrat, yep, all the weirdo things required for a weirdo democrat who campaigned as a tax cutter and against government spending, still was a 4 percentage point swing in favor of the Conservatives.
Gay marriage lost in Maine?
I Report :-) You Whine :-( Ate Up With Envy mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
November 4th, 2009
6:45 am
This is a huge defeat for Barack Obama. He campaigned heavily with Corzine, which he didn’t have to do. That communicates massive overconfidence by Obama. Precisely while Obama barnstormed the state, Christie passed Corzine and grew his lead. Bottom line: if Obama can’t make it here, he can’t make it anywhere. Sure, Corzine produced terrible failures for New Jersey as Governor. But these election results represent voter wrath against Obama as well, even in this state.-AmSpec
Obozo, mmm, mmmm, mmmmm, didn’t in New York and that’s probably why Owens won, hahaha.
Peadawg
November 4th, 2009
6:46 am
“where voters by a margin of 53-47 voted to rescind a gay-marriage law passed by the Legislature”
Amen!
Rightwing Troll
November 4th, 2009
6:46 am
I’m pretty sure it was the flat-earthers that lost big last night, since they were unable to install the puppet they wanted in NY 23.
Lets see, mainstream Republicans won two governors races, flat earth far right candidate does not survive Republican coup on it’s own representative in NY 23…
Who really lost here???… Really?
Bwahahahahahaha…..ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww I rule!
Rightwing Troll
November 4th, 2009
6:53 am
To be fair, Obama and his merry band of pirates hasn’t exactly DONE anything to instill confidence in thier vision, and some of us are starting to think it’s a flawed vision.
Too bad the far right, flat earthers don’t care about my vote… because it’s up for grabs, more so every day. But it won’t be used to elect farrrrrrrrr right nutbags like Mrs. Palin….We just experienced 8 years under the male equivalent of Mrs. Palin, to disasterous consequence…
I Report :-) You Whine :-( Ate Up With Envy mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
November 4th, 2009
6:55 am
Sooner or later, the Democrats will start to blame Obama, and turn on him. That is why I am predicting right now that President Obama is more likely to not be on the ticket in 2012, than he is to be re-elected. For Democrats who want to laugh this off, I have three words: Lyndon Baines Johnson.-AmSpec
Remember where you heard it first.
Am I not the man?
jt
November 4th, 2009
6:56 am
The following phone number is a connection to our next President.
The Honorable Ron Paul is already making a 2012 Federal Budget. The telephone number will enable liberty lovers to see the various unconstitutional Federal Departments that he will immediantly slash with prejudice. His federal budget will NOT be deficit neutral. It will be deficit destroying. He is also entertaining some interesting CLAWBACK amendments concerning Hank Paulson, Chucky Rangel, Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, David Axelrod, etc…….
For further information, consult the US constitution.
888-322-1414
TGT
November 4th, 2009
7:02 am
Numer of states that have put gay marriage on the ballot: 31
Number of states that have rejected gay marriage: 31 (with an average rejection rate of about 70%)
31 for 31. From bright red states to deep blue ones. Gay marriage (hopefully) is on its death bed.
mike
November 4th, 2009
7:05 am
I was surprised to find that Republicans had won anything, as Jay and the rest of the left have been declaring the GOP “dead” and “irrelevant”.
mike
November 4th, 2009
7:09 am
Rightwing Troll –
“Too bad the far right, flat earthers don’t care about my vote… ”
Yeah, because you were really debating as to whether or not to vote Democrat like you have in every other election you have participated in. LOL
stands for decibels
November 4th, 2009
7:10 am
it forces the conservative movement to swallow a little humble pie
Yeah, that’s going to happen.
See also:
Gay marriage (hopefully) is on its death bed.
Actually, gay marriage will be the law of the land within about a decade or so. The only thing standing in its way are older Americans who aren’t able to reconcile their notions of what’s “sinful” with modern day living. They will die off; a younger wave of voters will approve, and you’ll have to find some other kewl new wedge issue.
The Man
November 4th, 2009
7:12 am
Am I not the man?
Yep
stands for decibels
November 4th, 2009
7:13 am
Oh, and Bill Kristol? Regarding that question you posed yesterday?
If, after all that, Hoffman still beats the Democrat in this Obama+5 district — and if he does so precisely after running against Owens as a likely rubber-stamp vote for Pelosi on health care and other issues — doesn’t that send a shudder down the spine of all Democrats in competitive districts?
Here in America the people rule.
So, on Wednesday morning, don’t at least 40 Democrats march into the Speaker’s office and tell her to pull the bill?
Sorry, horse-face. Na gone duit.
TGT
November 4th, 2009
7:14 am
Interesting to note that Maine’s rejection of gay marriage was not a rejection of their courts, but of their legislature and governor. It just goes to show that even in liberal states the conservative position on social issues is (or at least can be) a winning one.
jt
November 4th, 2009
7:15 am
CNSNews.com
“Taxpayers Unlikely to Recover $80 Billion Given to Chrysler, GM, GAO Says”
Ron Paul says-
CLAWBACK!!!
jt
November 4th, 2009
7:17 am
“Feds: Stimulus Saved 16,000 Ed. Jobs in Ga.”
Government jobs.
Ron Paul says-
CLAWBACK
stands for decibels
November 4th, 2009
7:18 am
The following phone number is a connection to our next President.
The Honorable Ron Paul is already making a 2012 Federal Budget.
jt, two practical questions:
1) What is 2,012 minus 1,935?
2) How often have American voters catapulted a 77-year-old House Representative to its highest office?
jt
November 4th, 2009
7:19 am
“The deal appeared to pay off in a big way last week, when the Energy Department announced $3.4 billion in smart grid grants. Of the total, more than $560 million went to utilities with which Silver Spring has contracts. Kleiner Perkins and its partners, including Mr. Gore, could recoup their investment many times over in coming years.”
Ron Paul says-
CLAWBACK
Normal
November 4th, 2009
7:20 am
MR. PRESIDENT, BRING OUR TROOPS HOME NOW!
stands for decibels
November 4th, 2009
7:23 am
It just goes to show that even in liberal states the conservative position on social issues is (or at least can be) a winning one.
Twenty years ago if you’d had a referendum on allowing same-sexers to marry you might manage low double digits. And that’s optimistic.
Today, such measures are coming within single digits in places like Maine (which are so “Liberal” they have two republican Senators.)
Most of the resistance to gay marriage these days is in the 60-to-dead demographic.
Unless you’ve got some means by which to keep old people alive forever, and to prevent new people from being born, your efforts to stop marriage equality are doomed. The GLBT and their straight-but-not-narrow support community (that’d be me, my family, most of my friends) aren’t giving up on this. Ever.
Whereas, just like with slavery, just like with women’s suffrage, just like with school integration, one of these days, the evangelicals will.
mike
November 4th, 2009
7:23 am
sfb –
“They will die off; a younger wave of voters will approve, and you’ll have to find some other kewl new wedge issue.”
LOL. I love how angry liberals like to call any social issue a “wedge issue” created by the right. Sorry to let facts intrude on your mindless partisanship, but it is the left that is pushing this “wedge issue”, not the right. It’s not as if the right started the movement against gay marriage before the left began pushing the “wedge issue” of gay marriage.
But hey, why bother thinking for yourself when the liberal pundacracy can do it for you, with buzz words like “wedge issue” included at no charge. It’s so much easier than just acknowledging that others might take views that differ from your own narrow minded and intolerant views.
USinUK
November 4th, 2009
7:23 am
“I just love the smell of democratic charred egos in the morning”
Dems won a district they haven’t seen since the 1870s. so, charred egos?? you’re soaking in it.
as far as the VA race, McDonnell kicked Deed’s backside because he ran an excellent campaign. See Fairfax country — a Dem county that voted McDonnell, but went Dem for the rest of the candidates. Otherwise, the VA election map looks exactly like it did in 2008 — mostly red.
stands for decibels
November 4th, 2009
7:25 am
New York’s odd little race
yep, that’s what you’d be calling it, Whiner, if Bible Spice’s precious little boy had won.
jt
November 4th, 2009
7:25 am
stands for decibels
My dear old Daddy is 85 years old and still works everyday. Smoked camel no filters for 60 years and was raised on a diet rich in lard and buttermilk. He can, just like the good doctor Ron Paul, weild a budget-slashing red sharpie all day. And he can fire government workers twice as long.
Let the Birkenstockers tremble.
TGT
November 4th, 2009
7:28 am
SFD: Kristol’s question, not mine. It was, as I noted, “an interesting take” on the race.
Regardless of NY-23, don’t you think the nearly 25-point STATEWIDE swing in Virginia and the nearly 20-point STATEWIDE swing in NJ accomplish just the same?!
mike
November 4th, 2009
7:28 am
sfb –
“Whereas, just like with slavery, just like with women’s suffrage, just like with school integration, one of these days, the evangelicals will.”
You are utterly ignorant of history. The church, including many, many evangelical churches, were leaders in all of the movements you list above. For example, John Brown was a fervent evangelical. (Of course, this assumes that you even know who John Brown is, which is doubtful.)
But hey, if you want to hate people because of their religious faith and make up baseless lies about them, feel free. It is in keeping with the rest of your mindlessly hateful and intolerant views.
Normal
November 4th, 2009
7:29 am
USinUK
November 4th, 2009
7:23 am
Top of the morning to you, USinUk…Your above is spot on. “They” just don’t want to hear the truth, is all. And the NY23 election. I hope this a sign of good things to come for the moderate Republican majority out there.
mike
November 4th, 2009
7:31 am
sfb –
“yep, that’s what you’d be calling it, Whiner, if Bible Spice’s precious little boy had won.”
Another “tolerant” liberal showing her hateful bigotry. Of course, the hateful bigotry of liberals towards Christians is just fine and dandy with the left. We conservatives have so much to learn about “tolerance” from “tolerant” liberals like sfb.
stands for decibels
November 4th, 2009
7:32 am
I love how angry liberals like to call any social issue a “wedge issue” created by the right.
Well that’s nice. How about when I use that term?
mike
November 4th, 2009
7:32 am
Normal –
” “They” just don’t want to hear the truth, is all.”
Yay! Another liberal is going to define “The Truth” for us.
Let me guess. “The Truth” is whatever views you happen to hold at any given moment
jt
November 4th, 2009
7:33 am
“ACORN has received an estimated $53 million in government funds since its founding in 1970.”
Ron Paul says-
CLAWBACK
Turd Ferguson
November 4th, 2009
7:34 am
Stop duh “hay-in”, dayum.
Hopefully Norwood can bring it own home, however, w/Androo in his corner that may be a impossible. Then there is that Useless Lowery who may jump in because of late his television time is lacking.
Nice work NJ and VA!! Is this a Rep revival…who knows, yet is it needed to happen.
mike
November 4th, 2009
7:34 am
stands for decibels -
“Well that’s nice. How about when I use that term?”
at 7:10 you said: “They will die off; a younger wave of voters will approve, and you’ll have to find some other kewl new wedge issue.”
Any other really, really short term memory issues I can help with?
mike
November 4th, 2009
7:37 am
Who knows what these elections mean for 2010 or 2012. it is clear that off year elections do not always reflect long term trends.
That being said, it is evident that the folks on the left who have been crowing about the death and irrelevance of the GOP have been proven as wrong as the fools on the right who thought the same about Democrats in 2004.
Jay
November 4th, 2009
7:37 am
JT, this isn’t a Ron Paul site or post. After seven such posts, we get it.
AmVet
November 4th, 2009
7:40 am
Congratulations conned!
Massive, massive victories!
What?
Two wins and a loss?
Oh.
Well, that’s certainly better than going 0 for 36 and 5 for 33 as in the past two tries.
I guess when you’re used to getting creamed, even two wins seems fantastic.
And you’d think the arithmetical challenged, reality averse just went 22 and 1.
And the poor conservative party, loses in its only race.
Is fake conservatism truly dead?
mike
November 4th, 2009
7:40 am
Jay –
What do you think about sfb’s “Bible Spice” comment. Would you also find OK if somebody called Michelle Obama “Africa Spice” or some other bigoted term?
Why is bigotry against Christians so accepted on this blog?
Mrs. Godzilla
November 4th, 2009
7:40 am
Congratulations to McDonnell and Christie! May they serve their states well.
The Owens win…..well….what can I say?
We have finally found what the teabaggers are good at!
Getting democrats elected!
Can we get Palin, Pawlenty, Armey and McGuffie to campaign for Joe Lieberman?
USinUK
November 4th, 2009
7:40 am
Normal –
so, did you have a hush puppy for me last night??? (mmmmm … RL hush puppies)
mike –
I suggest you go back and reread a little history – John Brown was religious, yes, but he hardly represented all evangelicals. and, as for wimmen’s suffrage, they had the support of the temperance unions, but were hardly supported in the churches.
Normal
November 4th, 2009
7:41 am
sfd,
Actually, gay marriage will be the law of the land within about a decade or so. The only thing standing in its way are older Americans who aren’t able to reconcile their notions of what’s “sinful” with modern day living. They will die off; a younger wave of voters will approve, and you’ll have to find some other kewl new wedge issue.
I agree and I’m teaching my Grandchildren as I taught my children, that the only thing that matters is the character of the person…the only thing that matters is the CHARACTER of the person. Worth repeating.
USinUK
November 4th, 2009
7:42 am
“What do you think about sfb’s “Bible Spice” comment”
personally, I prefer “Caribou Barbie” (or St. Sarah of the Tundra)
Normal
November 4th, 2009
7:44 am
UsinUk, I ate two, count ‘em, two cheese biscuits in your honor. I told Mom of all of y’all’s kind words and she smiled a big smile, and said “Gracious, I didn’t know I had so many friends I haven’t met yet”.
mike
November 4th, 2009
7:44 am
AmVet –
LOL. Yes two GOP wins in statewide elections in populous swing states is a victory.
If you read the comments, you will note that conservatives are not overstating the importance of these wins, so as usual, you are arguing with partisan fantasies in your “mind”.
In fact, the only thing that is clear about this election is that silly folks like yourself were the ones who wildly overstated the importance of your victories in 2008.
Perhaps you should stop being “conned” by liberal propaganda and learn how to think for yourself.
Nah, just keep on making stuff up and calling people names. So much easier than using your brain.
USinUK
November 4th, 2009
7:45 am
mike –
why are you retiring to the fainting couch over the term “wedge issue” – it’s a perfectly acceptable term and is a tactic used by both parties.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wedge_issue
get a grip on yourself, man.
Dave R.
November 4th, 2009
7:45 am
The NY-23 race is largely irrelevant for a couple of reasons:
This was an open seat election where the candidates were hand-picked by their respective parties, not the voters in general.
The Democrat still didn’t get over 50% of the vote, even with a grossly split opposition.
A great deal of early voting and absentee ballots were already cast before the Republican withdrew.
A third-party candidate has a greater hurdle to climb than a name-brand party affiliated candidate.
This district is going to be gone shortly following the 2010 census when the Democrat-controlled legislature gerrymanders it out of existence once NY loses another congressional seat.
In summary, the net gain of one seat in Congress by an already heavily controlled majority doesn’t do a thing to the big picture, while two states and a congressional district that Hope & Change carried in 2008 have all voted for an alternative in 2009.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
November 4th, 2009
7:45 am
Bill Owens believes that for too long, the politicians in Washington have been spending blindly, letting our federal deficit spin out of control. He thinks we must now restore fiscal restraint and get our financial house in order to avoid even worse problems down the road. That’s why in Congress, Owens will fight for more balanced budgets and less deficit spending to help minimize the debt future generations will face.
Bill Owens also supports an estate tax exemption for up to $5 million, a threshold that will make sure family farms and small businesses in Upstate New York are not negatively impacted. He does not support increasing taxes on small businesses or middle class families that are already struggling during these tough economic times.-Bill Owens, democrat, NY-23
So did the democrat really win, bwahahahahahaha?