Republican sweep at the polls

SoWal Insider

Nov 3, '09 · 9:37 PM2,662

Virginia, New Jersey, and New York, the reps had a good night. The thing I find interesting is that these election wins were granted by three groups - independents, who in large numbers switched parties and voted red, energized republican and conservative voters who turned out in very large numbers, and minority groups, which failed to show up at the polls in numbers equal to the last election.

The pundits seem to be making a big deal of this being some sort of referendum on Obama. Personally I don't see it that way, I think this was a rejection of single party control in Washington. That for me is a really welcome development.

One last snarky comment - any rumors of a "new progressive era" in United States politics are, I think, dead. The clock is ticking dems, your time in the spot light is winding down. You best get to work!

The Fix - An independent move to GOP

NJ GOV: Christie Crushing Among Indies - Hotline On Call

Replies

Beach Lover

Nov 4, '09 · 4:40 PM#52

correct, and they acted like big spending dems and the corruption was out of control. those arent republicans. its republicans like that that forces me not to register republican and stay independant. fact is, republican gov or not, state is overwhelming blue. are you going to deny this?

Few things:

a) Every internet message board in existence has a "kkddbb". You are over the top and putting on a show, which is fine by me. I watch you with the same amusement as I do Olby, Maddow, Beck, Limbaugh and the rest of the talking head/pro wrestler group.

b) "Overwhelming (sic) blue" reeks of sensationalism in this context. Again, I am talking fact and not speculation. People in NJ (many Dems included) do not like Corzine, period. I am not AT ALL surprised at the result; nor is anyone else with any knowledge of the state of the state of NJ. So yes, I am wholeheartedly denying it.

c) You say, and I qoute "its republicans like that that forces me not to register republican". OK, fair enough (I too am an independent) but you fail to voice any possibility in your argument that the same processes might be at work on the other side. Could it be that there are many dems who were "forced" yesterday into staying home and not voting because of their views on certain issues make them, and I quote "(dems) like that that forces me" to not go out and vote? Could it be that Dems had had it with Corzine? Could it be that dems and libs in VA were not too keen on the anti public option stance by Creigh Deeds and so sent the Democrastic Party a loud message by staying home? Could those things be? Of course they could...but yet you run around the board today with your "its a referendum on Obama" rhetoric in full swing....

d) I am still waiting for you to explain to me how exactly your day to day life has gotten worse since Obama took office. Its been like 6 weeks now...... :idontno:

Beach Fanatic

Nov 5, '09 · 7:02 AM#53

kkddbb,

Isn't it completely feasible that the outcome in the race for NJ governor was a referendum on the incumbent NJ Governor?

Consider this-

When you vote for a candidate for mayor of your town, are you doing it to make the statement that you disapprove of the new governor?

Of course you aren't. You vote for the person whom you believe is the best candidate for mayor. More than likely that is exactly what we just saw in the races for governor. People voted for the person they wanted to be their governor. Not to make a statement about the President.

Edited Nov 5, '09 · 7:04 AM

SoWal InsiderAuthor

Nov 5, '09 · 9:57 AM#54

kkddbb,

Isn't it completely feasible that the outcome in the race for NJ governor was a referendum on the incumbent NJ Governor?

Consider this-

When you vote for a candidate for mayor of your town, are you doing it to make the statement that you disapprove of the new governor?

Of course you aren't. You vote for the person whom you believe is the best candidate for mayor. More than likely that is exactly what we just saw in the races for governor. People voted for the person they wanted to be their governor. Not to make a statement about the President.

The independent vote was a significant change. I've stated I don't think this had to do with Obama, but I think it carries a statement about democrat policy in general. NJ being the perfect example, government spending out of control, the highest property taxes in the country, plus all the national news about the state of the economy and government debt has to play a role. Independents who voted for Obama / democrats in the last two elections voted a fiscal conservative to the governor post. I think that's significant and in a way expected. The natural cycle of our political system continues to cycle on.

Edited Nov 5, '09 · 10:01 AM

Beach Fanatic

Nov 5, '09 · 10:29 AM#55

I think it was more about getting rid of whoever was in power than anything else - how else to explain the tight race Mayor Bloomberg had?

SoWal InsiderAuthor

Nov 5, '09 · 11:15 AM#56

National polls for months have shown deep unease among independent voters about Washington spending and about the expansiveness of Democratic proposals. So it was not fully a surprise when, in both New Jersey and Virginia, these voters swung wildly from Obama in 2008 to Republicans this time, according to exit polls.

..

Notably, however, few of these people were Democratic politicians who run in competitive districts.

Particularly in Virginia — which in recent years has emerged as an emblematic swing state — most Democratic politicians Tuesday night and Wednesday were frank in seeing worrisome trends and eager to see Democrats, starting with Obama, do more to emphasize fiscal responsibility.

In contrast to the Obama’s team sanguine analysis, Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) told POLITICO, “We got walloped.”

'We got walloped' - John F. Harris and Alexander Burns - POLITICO.com

Good article. Independents sway elections. Now we just have to sit back, relax, and wait for about a year to see where this is headed. In the mean time it'll be interesting to see how the current administration and congress interpret the news through their initiatives and voting.

Beach Fanatic

Nov 5, '09 · 1:07 PM#57

kkddbb,

Isn't it completely feasible that the outcome in the race for NJ governor was a referendum on the incumbent NJ Governor?

Consider this-

When you vote for a candidate for mayor of your town, are you doing it to make the statement that you disapprove of the new governor?

Of course you aren't. You vote for the person whom you believe is the best candidate for mayor. More than likely that is exactly what we just saw in the races for governor. People voted for the person they wanted to be their governor. Not to make a statement about the President.

Break's over......