What did we actually win? Looks to me all we did is hold.

[President Jesus]

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad for the victories, but I can't figure out what all the euphoria is about. The seats we won were already held by Democrats.

Has it gotten so bad that a victory means not losing?

I'm totally pissed about the Ohio voting reforms getting not just beaten but crushed. WTF? How is that possible after last year?

What am I missing here?

[Moochy]

1. Did you notice California?

Dont be a total buzzkill Jesus.. not like anybody got crucified.

:-)

[President Jesus]

2. don't mean to be a buzzkill...

...just goes to show how far we need to go to actually gain.

[calimary]

21. True, but it wasn't the running-in-place you fear it was. We DID gain

ground. In the critically-important PERCEPTION department, we leaped ahead by LIGHTYEARS!!!

PERCEPTION, PERCEPTION, PERCEPTION.

It's like that real estate addage about there being only three things that matter in real estate: "location, location, location." In politics, it's "perception, perception, perception."

All we have to do is keep on planting that little ol' seed... YES, this was 2005 and not 2006. YES they still own it all. But their grip on power has been SUBSTANTIALLY AND SERIOUSLY COMPROMISED. Repeat: COMPROMISED. Just picture in your mind the bad guys with their iron-grip on "power." It's like the side of a cliff - one of those layered cliffs in the American Southwest like the Mittens out in the desert. Solid stone, no? Well... no. They may be clinging to power up at the top of one of those cliffs. But around them, the elements have been raging, and by now, really doing a number on that cliff from which the bad guys are hanging. They've still got their grip firmly in place, alright. It's just that... all around their finger-hold at the top of that cliff is EROSION. In fact, it's not even the top of a cliff they're still clinging to. They're clinging to a tall, thin stalagmite that juts up like a reverse icicle from the desert floor. The massive cliff that once stood there has been whittled away by time, rain, wind, and fiercely-baking punishment from the sun. The once-mighty cliff has crumbled away into one big finger sticking up in the air. They're all up there, too, still clinging to the tip of it. But there's NOTHING around them to keep that narrow sliver of used-to-be-mesa from crumbling further - into a pile of powdered rubble, or snapping off from the weight at the top - that it can no longer support in its seriously weakened condition.

Make no mistake, we've gained PROFOUNDLY!!!

Perception. Remember it. It's the currency of the day. And WE'RE the ones with all the discretionary income now.

[wakeme2008]

3. Look around a lot of Repug and Repug ideas died.

You have (I forget the state) Plastic Fetus Sender put out of office and the ID school board (all of them) put out of office. That is only two that I remember but there were lots more.

[NJCher]

4. you might read this story at the NY Times

Defeats for G.O.P. Come at a Sensitive Time

By ROBIN TONER
Published: November 9, 2005

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 - After months of sagging poll ratings, scandal and general political unrest, the Republicans badly needed some good news in Tuesday's elections for governor. What they got instead was a clear-cut loss in a red state, and an expected but still painful defeat in a blue one.

The Republican loss in Virginia, which President Bush carried with 54 percent just a year ago, came after an 11th-hour campaign stop by Mr. Bush and the kind of all-out Republican effort to mobilize the vote that reaped rich rewards last year.

more at...

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/09/politics/09assess.html?hp&ex=1131598800&en=e664e8d0cfd1e075&ei=5094&partner=homepage




Cher

[GalleryGod]

18. Good analysis, Cher! Of course I'd expect nothing less from a fellow

teacher!:woohoo:

[LynneSin]

5. The Gropenator bombed at the box office yesterday

All his referendums when down in flames

[Meldread]

6. Yes, you are correct and yet at the same time wrong.

Virginia was being used to test the waters by both Republicans and Democrats. It was a "let's see how bad things are for the Republicans" test. Kilgore, while not a strong candidate, was a favorite. His political career is pretty much over, from what I've heard.

It was more of a symbolic victory over all. Here in Virginia we picked up a delegate seat, and I believe two democrat leaning Independents also took Republican Seats. This helped us cut into the Republican dominated House of Delegates giving the more moderate Republicans some bartering power against their extreme right counterparts.

What is encouraging to the Democrats is how the victory here in Virginia played out. From what I've heard Kilgore not only lost in the Democratic Northern part of the state, but Kaine also cut into him in the South - he eked out some victories in traditionally held Republican Areas and came hair splittingly close in others.

The good showing, but defeat of Byrnes and Deeds also is a victory in some ways, as Byrnes was pretty far to the left for Virginia... and even Kaine is to the left of Warner. We are making steady progress here, one election at a time.

However, do not forget Virginia is a Red State by and large. This bad showing here for Republicans was a litmus test to how things may play out in other states across the country. I would wager pretty good money on the fact you are going to begin seeing House and Senate Republicans distancing themselves from Bush as a result of Virginia's Election.

Despite Kilgore being a weak candidate, I think the general consensus is that what cost him the election - I believe it was supposed to be closer than this - was the crap storm swirling around Bush. As a result I believe Republicans are going to begin to see him as a drag on the party... and I think in the end the Republicans are gonna deal with him.

After all, looking at things from a Republican perspective Bush was supposed to lead them to the Promised Land. He managed to get them all three branches of government, but after successfully doing that he finds himself in a trap of his own design. They can see the promised land right over the horizon, but for some reason their leader just can't seem to make it over the damn mountain. In fact, things look so bad that it seems as if the promised land will never be reached.

I think it's over for the Republicans. If they get another Supreme Court seat that will be their last victory right before Bush is dismantled piece by piece. I think that will be followed by Democrats regaining control of the Senate in 2006, making a strong gain in the House, and in 2008 if things are still going well having a slam dunk shot at the Presidency.

If I was Howard Dean right now I'd be working my butt off to ensure that those things happen as planned, but more importantly to set myself up as someone who was able to pull it all off, showing the obviously failings of the DLC Strategies. (Kind of a, "Look, my Chairmanship has brought victory after victory - let the DLC Strategy be proven to be the failure that it is.")

I think in the end Ralph Nader was right, "It has to get worse before it gets better." ...and as screwed up as it may sound I think those of us on the left are going to look back on Bush's Presidency as the turning point that allowed the country to swing back to the left. I think the more Reagan/Bush conservatism that is shoved down America's throat; the more they hunger for something that doesn't leave a foul aftertaste.

[justiceischeap]

7. Virginia

I watched this race go from Kilgore tromping Kaine in the polls over the summer to sliding downhill as more and more bad news came out about the administration.

It seems from my perspective, the people from a red state, which I live in, voted AGAINST B*sh yesterday, not necessarily for Kaine. This shows how much real trouble the Pug party is in with their base.

Look at what happened in Norfolk, home to the United States largest Naval base... chock full of military:

Office: Governor

Precincts Reporting: 59 of 59 (100.00%)
Registered Voters: 105,022 Total Voting: 41,771 Voter Turnout: 39.77 %
Candidates Party Vote Totals: Percentage
T M Kaine Democratic 27,568 66.00%
J W Kilgore Republican 12,853 30.77%
H R Potts Jr Independent 1,292 3.09%
Write Ins 58 0.14%
View Results by Precinct Vote Totals: 41,771

Office: Lieutenant Governor

Precincts Reporting: 59 of 59 (100.00%)
Registered Voters: 105,022 Total Voting: 39,898 Voter Turnout: 37.99 %
Candidates Party Vote Totals: Percentage
L L Byrne Democratic 24,777 62.10%
W T Bolling Republican 14,696 36.83%
Write Ins 425 1.07%
View Results by Precinct Vote Totals: 39,898

Office: Attorney General

Precincts Reporting: 59 of 59 (100.00%)
Registered Voters: 105,022 Total Voting: 40,526 Voter Turnout: 38.59 %
Candidates Party Vote Totals: Percentage
R C Deeds Democratic 24,603 60.71%
R F McDonnell Republican 15,854 39.12%
Write Ins 69 0.17%
View Results by Precinct Vote Totals: 40,526

[Scooter24]

8. wow...

that is unreal.

I would have expected Norfolk to go strong Republican.

[justiceischeap]

9. All of Hamton Roads went Dem

Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Hampton, Suffolk, Chesapeake, Newport News

They all voted Kaine, VA Beach voted Kaine but voted repug for AG and LT Gov.

Hell even Williamsburg voted for Kaine.

[grrl62]

10. norfolk usually goes dem

it's va beach that's repug.

[mcscajun]

11. NJ was a particular target of the RNC for this year.

If they could turn NJ from its traditional Democratic leanings and get a Republican governor in place, it would do much to bolster the 'shift to the right' picture they'd like to paint in American politics and improve their chances in the 2006 and 2008 elections. The New Jersey governorship has been called the most powerful in the country because there is no lieutenant governor and the governor appoints his entire cabinet. Governor's seats are training grounds for presidential candidates.

The RNC and their various state chairmen concentrated a lot of out-of-state money and out-of-state volunteers in the effort to defeat the Corzine bid; it didn't work. So we won; we didn't just hold, we beat a national Republican effort to wrest control of a blue state away from the Democratic voters. That's doing something.

[GalleryGod]

19. Well said, indeed, and this effort had been under reported.

They wanted Jersey in their "Trophy Case"..without a doubt !

[jedr]

12. We lib's certainly know how to snatch defeat form the arms of;

victory....Dude, no offense , but we won big time.....the tide is turning. Middle America is starting to realize that these s.o.b.'s are frauds. Last year this time this would have been imposable, the only bad part is that it's a year late and Smirk is there for 3 more years.:toast:

[Guaranteed]

13. In a war, when a fort holds....when a fort ROUTS its attackers...

that's usually called a victory.

This was that, and more.

[union_maid]

14. We won what was available to win

We won the contests that were up for grabs. That makes us huge winners. This was an off year election, but maybe one of the most significant off year elections ever. Watch the Republicans carefully. They're on notice that they're cornered now. They're going to pull out all the stops, but with the way things played out, they won't be the kind of machine they've been.

[President Jesus]

23. ask gay Texans and Ohio voters if we won.

Let's put this in perspective...the only people who gained in this election are Texas homophobes and corrupt Ohioans.

[Catchawave]

15. Virginia voters managed to send a message

to ROVE and his nasty, nasty repug smear tactics, and devalued the Bush endorsement :)

It's a mandate for Mark Warner and his political future too.

Yes, Virginia, you're a victory for the voters!

[IChing]

16. thank you pres jesus for your faith in the holy trinity

Virginia, California and New Jersey

Oh, and don't get me wrong either!!!!

and don't
get it wrong either.
great victory
especially in California

Onward to 2006

[KingFlorez]

17. The point is, the GOP was defeated

Holding on to a seat is just as important as picking up a new one, it means our numbers aren't decreasing and the GOP's aren't rising.

[GalleryGod]

20. Can I say it? Let me say it! Wait for it..Wait for it !?...

:rofl: LET'S ROLL !!!!!!!!!!:spray:
:patriot: :patriot: :patriot:

[President Jesus]

22. wow. is that what it means?

thanks for the insight. :eyes: