Losing is no fun, but it points the way forward for traditional Christians who are also Republicans. First, there is no sense attacking the voters for their choice. In some cases the Republican candidate was tainted (Burns) or not really Republican (Chafee), but that is not enough to explain our losses. Good people lost, especially Santorum and Allen. They lost in part because the message of traditionalists is not being argued in a persuasive way.

(more at Middlebrow…)

Good news: many of the Democrats winning tonight in the House are mainstream. . . and not Pelosi Democrats.

Bad news: Pelosi will be majority leader.

I hoped to hold the House, but was wrong about both that and the Senate. Plainly the War and Republican party mistakes (Macca anyone?) destroyed hope for victory.

One thing I have learned: there is always another election. Ohio was toxic for Republicans due to local issues. New York is trending Democrat. . . and this was an off year. I think pro-war Republicans will have to accept that the war was a drag on the party. . . even if it was right.

We will see how the next two years go.

(more at Middlebrow…)

I always vote “no” on spending. . . since usually they don’t ask. Culture of life voters should vote for 85 an abortion parental notification bill.

Your most important vote is for local judges. . . but in California this is confusing.
(more…)

Every election since I was a boy marked the “end of the Religious Right.” Every election since I was a young man marked the “peak of the Reagan Revolution” and the end of conservatives.

If you believe the media, then Republican wins are shocks and Democrat wins are natural.

One fact: no Democrat has won 51% of the vote since Jimmy Carter. I have never voted (I am 43) in a Presidential race in which the Democrats have received over half the vote. Republicans may lose the House and Senate, but it will be close and I don’t think it will happen. I am sticking with my prediction of the first of the year.

I am no prophet or son of a prophet, but I don’t think most people spend a great deal of time “doing politics.” They are worried about Iraq, tired of crisis, not thrilled with either party, but aren’t going to do much to rock the boat. Most people like their own folks . . . and will re-elect them.

My bet is that the party turn out in 2004 will be a lower version of 2006 (same profile minus Indie voters . . . which is good news for Bush this time). My assumption is that over-polling Democrats is getting worse (not better) and that most polls are “off” by about 2/3 percent.

My picks (with a short reason):

Senate: Republicans at 53. (Main Stream shocks: Chafee will lose, but Steele will win.)
House: Republicans will lose 16 seats, but gain 2 (at least one in Georgia) to retain thin control of the House. Nobody much is watching the weak Dem seats. House polling stinks and two of the supposed easy Dem pick ups are in Republican districts where pundits assume voters are too dumb to vote for the candidate they prefer . . . new media is educating these voters. Most pundits still do not understand how the new media can get information to target voters. Mid-terms are low turn out elections, which are all about getting out the base. Republicans are the best at this. . . and have been all my life.

The key is to ignore polling . . . listen to good radio like Pastore and Hewitt . . . and vote.