reflections on the elections...

[RecycleMichael]

Now that I have had a day to absorb the results and go through the seven steps of grief...

I think the voters have just become impatient and want immediate change. They gave the democrats two years and want to give someone else a chance. In 2006 the democrats took over the House of Representatives. In 2008 the democrats took over the White House and the Senate. In 2010 the voters chose to give the House to the republicans. Each time was a significant change. Maybe the voters just want change.

In the last 16 years the republicans have controlled the house for 12 of them. Winning it back wasn't the signal that they will keep it. I will bet now that they lose many of those seats back to the democrats in two years. The voters are impatient.

To my democrat friend (s?)...If you had to pick two of the three, holding the Presidency and the Senate would be the two you would want. 

[Hoss]

Now that I have had a day to absorb the results and go through the seven steps of grief...

I think the voters have just become impatient and want immediate change. They gave the democrats two years and want to give someone else a chance. In 2006 the democrats took over the House of Representatives. In 2008 the democrats took over the White House and the Senate. In 2010 the voters chose to give the House to the republicans. Each time was a significant change. Maybe the voters just want change.

In the last 16 years the republicans have controlled the house for 12 of them. Winning it back wasn't the signal that they will keep it. I will bet now that they lose many of those seats back to the democrats in two years. The voters are impatient.

To my democrat friend (s?)...If you had to pick two of the three, holding the Presidency and the Senate would be the two you would want. 

Agreed RM.  Problem now is nothing at all will get done.  The Repubs in the House will pass bills that the Dems will block.  The President now has the veto power knowing that the 2/3 needed to overturn the veto doesn't exist.

I can't say I voted straight party line (I never do anyway), but it leaves me with the question about Coburn which always gnaws at me.  Didn't he say he would only serve the one term and quit?  Don't I remember that?  Or was that for just the House?

I guess he only meant one term as a representative.  How noble.

[RecycleMichael]

Problem now is nothing at all will get done. 

Maybe that is what American voters want to happen.

[Conan71]

Here's my reflections as a life-long Republican son of a Democrat (oh the shame!).  Oh hell, I just came up with a new epithet 

First off, Republicans need to remain humble.

I'm already seeing a failure of this with most candidates who won last night.

Second, Republicans need to realize they were not given a mandate last night. 

This is precisely why there was such a huge power swing in the House.  Democrats were mistaken they'd been given a mandate.  They did not listen to individuals and small business owners who drive the economy in any of their agenda measures.  Republicans should not go to Washington with the intent of the next two years being a complete repudiation of policies since President Obama has taken office.  A complete repeal of Obamacare will be a mess and political disaster.  They need to examine which parts of the bill are troublesome and costly and make modifications.

Third, Republicans need to resist partisan shenanigans like circle-jerk investigations.

Fourth, Republicans need to keep their word on reigning in spending and deficits and not fill every bill with earmarks.

If they are not careful they will be removed from their seats quicker than smile through a goose.

I did see a troubling trend last night, and those of you who are FB friends have seen it in my status update.  Oklahoma lost a good labor commissioner and insurance commissioner last night.  I'm assuming from straight party line voting.  I consider party-line voting a tool for the uninformed and I think it's a completely lazy approach to voting.  Obviously, national sentiment trickled into state office voting.

Seriously, what does being pro-life or an NRA member bring to regulating the insurance industry or supervising boiler and amusement ride inspectors?  I also felt John Doak had serious integrity issues, at least from information in Kim Holland's ads.  I believe he also over-stated how much an insurance commissioner can have in overturning a Federal measure like Obamacare.  I felt Holland was doing a great job with a department which has been plagued with corruption for years.  We will now have an insurance company executive running this department which is supposed to help protect consumers.

Mark Costello (our new labor commissioner) does not seem to have even a remote clue as to what the LC does.  The labor commission is not given the duty of creating jobs in Oklahoma.  They regulate and enforce workplace safety, wages, labor issues, and workers comp.  It's not a job promotion job.  From his insanely stupid ads all I can figure is party line voting resulted in this victory.  I work in a field heavily regulated by the OKDOL and can say it's been well-run under Lloyd Fields.

I was pretty ambivalent about the AG post, I figured either candidate would do well, but voted for Priest on Guido's recommendation.  As far as auditor, there's something about Gary Jones I didn't like, maybe I was worried about him being less than partisan since he used to be the GOP state chairman.  I also thought his lawsuit against Jeff McMahan and Gene Stipe for "stealing an election" was childish.

[Conan71]

Agreed RM.  Problem now is nothing at all will get done.  The Repubs in the House will pass bills that the Dems will block.  The President now has the veto power knowing that the 2/3 needed to overturn the veto doesn't exist.

I can't say I voted straight party line (I never do anyway), but it leaves me with the question about Coburn which always gnaws at me.  Didn't he say he would only serve the one term and quit?  Don't I remember that?  Or was that for just the House?

I guess he only meant one term as a representative.  How noble.

He honored the three term limit in the "contract" as a representative.

[nathanm]

Here's my reflections as a life-long Republican son of a Democrat (oh the shame!).  Oh hell, I just came up with a new epithet 

First off, Republicans need to remain humble.

I'm already seeing a failure of this with most candidates who won last night.

Second, Republicans need to realize they were not given a mandate last night. 

This is precisely why there was such a huge power swing in the House.  Democrats were mistaken they'd been given a mandate.  They did not listen to individuals and small business owners who drive the economy in any of their agenda measures.  Republicans should not go to Washington with the intent of the next two years being a complete repudiation of policies since President Obama has taken office.  A complete repeal of Obamacare will be a mess and political disaster.  They need to examine which parts of the bill are troublesome and costly and make modifications.

Third, Republicans need to resist partisan shenanigans like circle-jerk investigations.

Fourth, Republicans need to keep their word on reigning in spending and deficits and not fill every bill with earmarks.

If they are not careful they will be removed from their seats quicker than smile through a goose.

I did see a troubling trend last night, and those of you who are FB friends have seen it in my status update.  Oklahoma lost a good labor commissioner and insurance commissioner last night.  I'm assuming from straight party line voting.  I consider party-line voting a tool for the uninformed and I think it's a completely lazy approach to voting.  Obviously, national sentiment trickled into state office voting.

Seriously, what does being pro-life or an NRA member bring to regulating the insurance industry or supervising boiler and amusement ride inspectors?  I also felt John Doak had serious integrity issues, at least from information in Kim Holland's ads.  I believe he also over-stated how much an insurance commissioner can have in overturning a Federal measure like Obamacare.  I felt Holland was doing a great job with a department which has been plagued with corruption for years.  We will now have an insurance company executive running this department which is supposed to help protect consumers.

Mark Costello (our new labor commissioner) does not seem to have even a remote clue as to what the LC does.  The labor commission is not given the duty of creating jobs in Oklahoma.  They regulate and enforce workplace safety, wages, labor issues, and workers comp.  It's not a job promotion job.  From his insanely stupid ads all I can figure is party line voting resulted in this victory.  I work in a field heavily regulated by the OKDOL and can say it's been well-run under Lloyd Fields.

I was pretty ambivalent about the AG post, I figured either candidate would do well, but voted for Priest on Guido's recommendation.  As far as auditor, there's something about Gary Jones I didn't like, maybe I was worried about him being less than partisan since he used to be the GOP state chairman.  I also thought his lawsuit against Jeff McMahan and Gene Stipe for "stealing an election" was childish.

I'm pretty much in agreement with you here, shockingly. I've got no problem with Republicans who aren't complete nutcases. Unfortunately, I think Boener and others will be ignoring your advice at the national level, and we elected quite a few nutcases into state government last night.

For what it's worth, the health care bill gives a lot of power to state insurance regulators, so I would be surprised if Doak can't find a way to refuse to enforce the law. TBH, his win was one of the most disappointing results last night. Until 2013, his department is the only thing standing in the way of unjustified rate increases in Oklahoma. Oh well, at least my SO works for a company that'll pay whatever it takes to buy her good health care coverage. Hopefully they don't end up paying so much that her raises end up being crappy.

[Red Arrow]

In 2006 the democrats took over the House of Representatives. In 2008 the democrats took over the White House and the Senate. In 2010 the voters chose to give the House to the republicans. Each time was a significant change. Maybe the voters just want change.

I guess Hope & Change can work both ways.

[Cats Cats Cats]

They just want the economy to come back.  People thought that the horrible economy would bounce back in 2 years.  So they figured things weren't happening fast enough.  So, when the Republican's don't do anything for a few years you will have a competitive 2012 election.

[Townsend]

Boehner's promising to be the "voice of the American people".

[Hoss]

They just want the economy to come back.  People thought that the horrible economy would bounce back in 2 years.  So they figured things weren't happening fast enough.  So, when the Republican's don't do anything for a few years you will have a competitive 2012 election.

Unless Palin decides to run.  Then whomever the Democrat is (it may NOT be our current President and he may not decide to run for another term..wouldn't blame him) will likely win as long as they can form intelligent sentences.

I just don't want to see sane Republicans getting tuned out by the likes of Rubio, Paul and others.  I have a feeling it's likely the TPers will tone down their rhetoric once the freshmen congressmen/women and senators see how the dynamic of politics in DC operate.  Much to the chagrin of those who voted them in.

[Hoss]

Boehner's promising to be the "voice of the American people".

Promise me free tanning spray!

[RecycleMichael]

Voting for republicans gives me a Boehner.

[Hoss]

I smell burnt toast!

[Townsend]

Voting for republicans gives me a Boehner.

And it got a tad weepy last night in front of everybody.

[guido911]

Sounds like a few people who joyously repeated the slander of people opposing Obama as "teabaggers" don't like the feeling of getting "teabagged" last night.

And Conan, about being "humble", what do you want? Are the winners last night not permitted to celebrate their victories? Moreover, we saw Boehner's humility last night in his tears and he gets mocked in this thread.