Joan Bray Wins! And so
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Joan Bray Wins!
And so does Betty Sims. It may not be this year–well it certainly isn’t this year, but social moderates win. Social conservatives lose. Tolerance is good. I can write declarative sentences.-
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Upcoming blogging Several issues have
Upcoming blogging
Several issues have come-up with the results of these elections.
1) Terry McAuliffe is an evil man who has stolen and sold the soul of the Democratic Party. I hated him when he became party leader, I hate him more now. Install Carville and Begala. Principle over cash. If Ralph Reed is going to be the Republicans street-fighter, let’s get ours in the game.
Update: And apparently Ramesh at NRO agrees with my assessment of McAuliffe on strategic matters.
2) In the west the consensus movement between environmentalists and ranchers has produced a win in the Wyoming race. Environmentalists need to think about how to pursue a conservationist agenda that includes those not traditionally considered environmental allies. I’ve been thinking about this a lot for several months and the surge in Wyoming and the Hog Farm issues in North Carolina and Iowa has crystallized my thinking on the issue. I’ve been waiting for the election to see if it produced a win. This will be one of the themes of this blog for a while post-election.
3) Rod Blagojevich has a hell of a learning curve ahead of him. Lisa Madigan has a hell of a future ahead of her. Birkett goes home and tries to fry more innocents. Jim Ryan makes a lot of money and enjoys life.
4) Peter Fitzgerald was a nice side-show with a close Senate. He did all sorts of things that Illinois needs like P Fitzgerald and Miquelon. Those are luxuries we no longer can afford. First, clear out Mosely-Braun. Then cull the herd of Hull, Obama (an emotional favorite), Hynes, and Chico. Get behind the strongest challenger and encourage a business challenge in the GOP to primary Fitzgerald, AKA light the match to the civil war.
5) McBride lost, class size won. Mark Russell has long had a bit about America being ideologically conservative, but operationally liberal. Florida seems to demonstrate this quite well. What does this mean for Democratic candidates?
6) Reallignment is real and clearly occurring. Democrats are starting to make serious inroads into the Northeastern Republicans. How can we speed this process up? How can we make 1994 happen in a region hospitable to us? Part of this is related to Judis-Texiera, but also to some real political science work going on that demonstrates the rotating pattern between social and economic issues since 1896. If you pay close attention, you might get a preview of some political science work coming out in the top journals that is related to the Emerging Democratic Majority.
7) Lots on how the median voter theorem relates to our system. Some discussion has broken out on various blogs. I hope to add to it.
8) Replace McAuliffe. Oh, I mentioned that already. Did I mention get rid of McAuliffe? How about Davis? Torricelli is gone, let’s get rid of the rest of the unholy trinity.
Barnes A friend predicted Barnes
Barnes
A friend predicted Barnes would have a hard time 2 months ago. He was right. It also means it is time to tell Zell Miller to take a hike. He couldn’t get two proteges through an election.
There are two camps amongst Democratic strategists. One is Celinda Lake who is pushing NASCAR dads. The other camp, led by Mark Penn, is pushing for the strategy in the Emerging Democratic Majority. Penn is right, Lake is wrong. Move forward. There are even signs in recent months that John Edwards is moving towards Penn and that is a good thing.
Kit Bond Is still drunk,
Kit Bond
Is still drunk, but jolly and a much better sight this time around.
I’m moving to Illinois Did
I’m moving to Illinois
Did I mention this already? I miss Illinois. And at least the natives in Illinois can pronounce their state’s name correctly.
A Love Letter to the
A Love Letter to the Illinois Leader
Was already written by the Trib so I don’t have to bother. Nothing you haven’t read here.
Do you think home schooling and abortion won 26 years straight? Or tolerance and fiscal restraint? I’m a proud Democrat, but I fully recognize the importance of a two party system that checks the extravagance of the parties’. The Hari Kari the Illinois Circular Firing Squad Team is about to committ is bad for the State of Illinois.
Kadner’s advice Don’t do too
Kadner’s advice
Don’t do too much. Actually I think he undersells Build Illinois. Along with Illinois First, such programs may be loaded with pork, but that is often the cost of infrastructure funds. It is also the difference between the roads in Illinois and Missouri. Governor-Elect Blowdry does have something in common with Edgar. They both lied about taxes. We know Edgar did, and we know Gov-Elect BD will be breaking that promise.
Things I’d pay to see
Things I’d pay to see
Rolando Cruz hugging Da Speaker.
“Thank you; Thank you for everything,” Cruz told Mike Madigan, who, a bit startled, turned to his bodyguard and said, “Hey, it’s Mr. Cruz.”
I didn’t think anyone hugged Mike Madigan.
The Party of Fiscal Discipline
The Party of Fiscal Discipline
Daniel Gross does a great job on the meaning of the election for those of us who actually liked Paul Tsongas not being Santa Claus.
Accountability Regardless of my guess
Accountability
Regardless of my guess that the Republicans will overreach for the next two years, undivided government is a wonderful way to produce accountability. If they do well, the voters know who to reward. If a united government doesn’t effectively govern, whining that it was someone else’s fault won’t work. George Bush is now the leader of a party that is responsible for the governance of the United States. Do you think he is up to it?
There is a good result, Doonesbury and the Boondocks will be great.
Oh, and can someone start mentioning the crazy majority leader in the attic? I think it is important to vet the family in charge, don’t you? Additionally, for all of the calls for retribution on Jeffords by ending the dairy subsidy. You might check with the incoming majority leader about how Suiza Foods feels about that. Or more correctly check with Suiza Foods about how Tom DeLay will think about that.