GOP Looks to Avoid the Very Thing it Needs - the Intraparty Fight

Actually, the GOP needs an intraparty fight, given the recent flubs by the likes of Newt Gingrich. And Michael Steele's getting more grating all the time. In any case, at the New York Times, "Energized G.O.P. Looking to Avoid an Intraparty Feud" (via):

Republicans emerged from Tuesday’s elections energized by victories in Virginia and New Jersey, but their leaders immediately began maneuvering to avoid a prolonged battle with conservative activists over what the party stands for and how to regain power.

The victories, in races for governor, were cast by the party’s national chairman, Michael Steele, as a sign of a “Republican renaissance.” In New Jersey, Gov. Jon S. Corzine, a Democrat, was toppled by the Republican nominee, Christopher J. Christie. In Virginia, Robert F. McDonnell, the Republican, defeated his Democratic opponent, R. Creigh Deeds.

Republicans said the victories showed that President Obama and his party were vulnerable on the economy, government spending and other issues.

Yet throughout the day Wednesday, Republicans grappled with the disappointing outcome of a special election for what had been a reliably Republican House seat in upstate New York. That contest became a battleground between the party establishment and a conservative insurgency demanding more ideological purity from candidates.

The race was won by a Democrat, Bill Owens, after the Republican nominee, Dede Scozzafava, a moderate, quit as conservative leaders and grass-roots organizations rallied around Douglas L. Hoffman, who ran on the Conservative Party line.

Despite Mr. Hoffman’s loss, many conservatives promised to press on with opposition to centrist Republican candidates. That vow intensified concerns among party leaders that the opportunities they see coming out of Tuesday’s results could be dimmed by intramural battles over whether to reach for the political center or do more to motivate the base on the party’s right.

And you can see the huge problem with this piece, by the Times' Adam Nagourney. Dede Scozzafava was no "moderate." She had radical union backing and won awards as an abortion extremist. The old-line press, by speaking of hardcore leftists as "moderates," actually emboldens conservative activists even more. The whole D.C.-New York "corridor" is corrupted by the RINO-DIABLO infection.

On with the intraparty fight, I say. Let's get the GOP back to basics so we can restore some liberty in this country.

'Every Parent's Nightmare': Gossip Girl to Air Hot Sex Threesome

Look, my oldest kid watches "Gossip Girl" - and who can blame him - Blake Lively and Leighton Meester are hot!

But, my kid's still 13 years-old. On this season's premier, Gossip Girl will showcase a sexual threesome. According to the Ausiello Files:

Sources confirm to me exclusively that Gossip Girl’s Nov. 9 episode will feature three major characters having sex. At the same time. In the same bed. Together.

And I repeat: OMFHWTFHOLLA!

Check the post for the possible "combos."

Actually, this ain't so great for responsible families. Where do parents draw the line?

Well, check the New York Daily News, "'Gossip Girl' Threesome Adds Up to Bad News for Teens, Says Parents Television Council":

In France it's called a "menage a trois." In America, it's called a "bad idea" - at least according to the Parent's Television Council.

The organization has sent a letter to Entertainment Weekly and the CW, criticizing the TV network for planning to air a "Gossip Girl" episode that features a threesome.

The letter, written by PTC chief Tim Winter, states, "To include a story line like this on a program that is expressly targeted to impressionable teenagers is reckless and irresponsible. I appeal to your highest sense of decency, respect and common sense in urging you to preempt this episode."

Plus, see also the full-page ad for the premiere, "Every Parent's Nightmare."

'House Call' Today: Michele Bachmann Protest Will Be 'Super Bowl of Freedom'

Here's a video roundup of Michele Bachmann making the case for her "House Call" protest today on Capitol Hill. Renew America has an information page, "Rep. Michelle Bachmann's National Tea Party."

Also, from Patricia Murphy, "Michele Bachmann's Capitol House Call: 'Get Your Hands Off My Health Care!'":

Rep. Michele Bachmann's message for conservatives traveling to Washington to attend her Capitol Hill House Call event Thursday is simple: "Go into the Capitol and find members of Congress," she told activists Wednesday night. "Don't bring your pitchforks, bring your video cameras. And get them on record saying how they're going to vote and why. And tell them, 'Take your hands off my health care!' "

Bachmann (R-Minn.) gave the marching orders on a conference call of top activists, many of whom planned to board buses in New Jersey and North Carolina Thursday morning to attend the event that the congresswoman thought up last week. "Nothing is more influential than an eyeball-to-eyeball meeting between a freedom-loving constituent and a member of Congress," she explained. "Nothing scares a member of Congress more than freedom-loving Americans."

Bachmann said she thought up the event as she lamented the speed with which the Democrats' health care reform bills were moving through Congress. "I was near despair," she said. "I was thinking, 'It looks like this bill is going to go through.' But then I thought, 'This is it. This is the Super Bowl of Freedom.'"

Also, Congressman Mike Pence has organized a 12-hour online town hall meeting to run tandem with Representative Bachmann's "House Call." See, "GOP Organizes 12-hour Online Town Hall for Thursday." (RELATED: The Washington Post, "House Expected to Vote on Health Bill Saturday." Via Memeorandum. AND, from Pat in Shreveport, "Here Comes Obamacare: Melt the Phones!)

Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin, and the 'Party Demanders'

Hans Noel, at the Monkey Cage, offers a political science perspective on New York 23rd's special election.

Noel is a co-author of The Party Decides: Presidential Nominations Before and After Reform. His analysis at the Monkey Cage is intriguing. He argues what we call "movement conservatives" (leaders of the right-wing base) are actually "party demanders" who push a cohesive ideological agenda onto local party organizations -- where party hacks are likely to face more varied constituency pressures. (That, by the way, is the argument Michael Steele's been making; the GOP chairman is now, in fact, in the middle of an intra-party war been Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin, and the RNC.) Note how Noel's essay is hip to the current buzz-trends and lingo on the ground among activists and bloggers ("DIABLOs"):

I think the NY-23 story is a great illustration of two basic and related phenomena. First, party coalition members constantly negotiate and renegotiation their party’s collective position, and they often do so with nominations. Second, ideologues strongly influence the preferences of party activists, so the party ultimately has to respond to them.

First, the negotiation. This is not about upstart outsiders messing with the “real” party in New York. The New York state and local party leaders represent some interests in the Republican Party, but they are more moderate, in their own preferences or at least in the preference of voters they are responsive to. The national party includes folks like that, but it also includes “movement conservative” types, like Sarah Palin. I think it’s wrong to call these people “the base.” In The Party Decides, we called them “policy demanders.” They want something, and it might be different from what upstate NY Republicans want. But since the member goes to Washington, they care about who that person is. That these different interests would fight it out over a nomination is to be expected.

The kicker here is Scozzafava’s endorsement of Owens. A lot of commentators portrayed the pro-Hoffman wing of the party as lacking in party loyalty, but Scozzafava is the one who really bolted the party. She kind of does look like a DIABLO (Democrat in All But Label Only) in retrospect.

Second, the ideologues. A lot of what holds the party together is a conservative ideology, which is reinforced by Glenn Beck but is created by more serious people (like writers in the National Review and the Weekly Standard). Those people and their writings are what creates the conservative movement. Conservatism is not merely an electoral strategy. It’s a belief system, and one that important and powerful players share.

This is important, because as you may have noticed, Hoffman lost in NY-23, while more moderate Republican gubernatorial candidates won in NJ and VA (mostly for the reasons Marc Hetherington laid out in an earlier post). If all you care about is electing Republicans, Hoffman was a blunder. But if you’re a movement conservative, winning the seat with someone who so easily switched to the Democrats might be only marginally better than losing it.

The Mark Hetherington essay is here.

I know for a fact conservatives would rather lose, and most folks can't stand Michael Steele (so he's really in an unenviable position with his attacks on Limbaugh and Palin -- the most popular personalities on the right today).

By the way, compare Noel's analysis to Rush Limbaugh's, "Conservatism Didn't Lose in NY-23. (Via Memeorandum.) I got a good laugh there, where Rush calls Dede Scozzafava a "babe."

Conservative Success in NY-23

From the Politico, "Conservatives on NY-23: We Didn't Lose":

Conservative grass-roots activists asserted Wednesday that third-party candidate Doug Hoffman’s loss in a New York special election was no setback but, rather, signaled a victory for the burgeoning political movement.

Hoffman, who surged to the brink of victory after becoming a rallying point for disaffected Republicans and tea party activists, lost to Democrat Bill Owens 49 percent to 46 percent in a contest that grabbed national headlines.

“I think time was the biggest factor, and if [Hoffman had] had a bit more time, he would have won,” said Everett Wilkinson, a South Florida-based tea party organizer who was watching the contest closely. “I wouldn’t consider it a loss. I think we were successful.”

Janet Spencer, a South Carolina-based tea party activist who in September chartered two buses to take 75 of her neighbors to the nation’s capital for the Taxpayer March on Washington, went one step further, declaring the outcome a win.

“In my opinion, I do consider it kind of a victory because he had a lot of odds going against him and not a lot of time,” she said.

Others dismissed Tuesday’s defeat as one lost skirmish in a larger battle to remake the Republican Party and establish populist conservatism as a political force.

“We plan to continue to play a role when we see a candidate who should be kept from Congress or when we see a candidate who should be advanced,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List.

Dick Armey, the chairman of FreedomWorks, the limited-government, anti-tax organization that has been instrumental in ginning up tea parties, said Hoffman’s loss was simply a function of having too little time — just two months — to mount a successful campaign.

“He just got there late, that’s all,” Armey said. “We think small-government conservatives had a big victory last night.”

Too Perfect: Alleged Carrie Prejean Sex Tape Brings Close to Miss California Lawsuit

TMZ has two stories, "Prejean Settlement - Like Kissing Your Sister," and "Prejean Sex Tape Triggers Settlement." (Via Memeorandum.)

But, hey, wouldn't a Carrie Prejean sex vid have blown the Erin Andrews voyeur story out of the water? TMZ claims it had a copy of the video months ago, but refused to release it:

The video the lawyer showed Carrie is extremely graphic and has never been released publicly. We know that, because TMZ obtained the video months ago but decided not to post it because it was so racy. Let's just say, Carrie has a promising solo career.

Yeah. Right.

There's been too much funny stuff going on throughout this scandal; and such a resolution is just too perfect for Ms. Prejean's enemies.

The New Jersey Star-Ledger is also skeptical, "Report: Carrie Prejean Sex Tape Turned Up During Miss California Lawsuit Negotations."

For more, see my earlier report at Pajamas Media, "Miss California Carrie Prejean’s Odyssey: Not Very Pretty."

Time Has Come Today...

This one's not actually from the 100.3 The Sound playlist (or at least I haven't heard it there yet). No, the Ramones' cover of the Chambers Brothers' "Time Has Come Today" just seemed right in capturing some meaning from yesterday's big elections. This Google video takes a little longer to load, but the sound's way better than the YouTube copy. This was a 1983 release, so the early MTV video is way kitsch, but turn it up anyway:

Time has come today
Young hearts can go their way
Can't put it off another day
I don't care what others say
They say we don't listen anyway
Time has come today, hey

The room has changed today
I have no place to stay
I'm thinking about the subway
Mu love has blown away
My tears have come and gone
Oh'Lord I got to run
I got no home
No, I have no home

Now the time has come
Nowhere (place) to run
Might get burned up by the sun
But I'll have my fun
I've been loved, pushed (put) aside
I've been crushed by tumbling tide
And my soul has been psychedelicized

Now the time has come
There are things to realize
Time has come today
Time has come today

Nancy Pelosi: 'We Won Last Night'

From Nice Deb, "Video: Nancy Pelosi Positively Giddy Over Election Night Results":

It's an ominous sign that she sees the NY-23 race as “a victory for health-care reform and other initiatives”, never mind the fact that Democrat Bill Owens campaigned against the public option. This is all the more reason to answer Michelle Bachmann’s call and head out to DC, tomorrow to protest ObamaCare if at all possible. You can also protest at your home state’s capital if a trip to DC is too much.

As for her bogus claim that the Owens win was a first for a Dem in that district “since the Civil War” … Please – are all Democrats using Daily Kos talking points, now?

Also, Conservative Xpress, "Nancy Pelosi On Election Results: "We Won Last Night" (Video)" (with a link to the Politico, "Pelosi Dismisses Dem Losses in Virginia and New Jersey")

Payback is a Bitch: 'Political Climate for 2010 Not as Favorable to Democrats'

From Gallup, "Political Climate for 2010 Not as Favorable to Democrats":

The 2010 election cycle begins in a political climate that is shaping up to be not as favorable to the Democratic Party as the 2006 and 2008 elections were. Having capitalized on broad public discontent with the course of the nation in general and the Republican Party in particular to win control of the White House and both houses of Congress, the party faces the 2010 midterm elections trying to preserve its recent gains.

Gallup's generic congressional ballot provides a summary measure of current voting intentions for Congress. This currently suggests the 2010 midterm elections could be highly competitive, and possibly a strong Republican year if usual turnout patterns prevail ....

Although Democrats retain a significant advantage in party affiliation, that advantage has dwindled over the course of this year. Also, there are ominous signs for the majority party in terms of near-record-low congressional job approval and continuing low national satisfaction ratings.

Presidential Job Approval. It is well-documented that the president's party is usually vulnerable to losing congressional seats in midterm elections, though there have been exceptions such as in the 1998 and 2002 elections. Unpopular presidents tend to suffer greater losses, and popular presidents are able to minimize these or even help achieve gains. George W. Bush experienced both outcomes, with Republican gains in 2002 when he was popular and heavy Republican losses in 2006 when he was not.

The Democrats will contest the 2010 elections with their fellow partisan, Barack Obama, in the White House. Right now, Obama's approval ratings are middling, in the low 50s, suggesting he would not be able to minimize Democratic losses to a great degree if the elections were held today. Further erosion of Obama's popularity between now and next November could prove damaging to the Democratic Party ....

Satisfaction With the Way Things Are Going in the Country/Ratings of the Economy. These ratings are less overtly political than presidential job approval, but have a similar relationship to election outcomes. Lower satisfaction levels and poorer ratings of the economy are associated with poorer performances for the president's party in midterm elections. Gallup has a slightly longer history of asking about satisfaction than about the economy in election years ....

In Gallup's most recent update, 26% of Americans said they were satisfied with the way things are going in the country. And recent Gallup Daily economic tracking has found only about 11% of Americans rating the economy as either excellent or good. Both measures are down significantly from what Gallup measured just before the 2006 elections and, with Democrats now in power, neither measure appears promising for the party looking ahead to 2010 ....

Congressional Job Approval. Often in recent decades, one party has occupied the White House and the other has controlled Congress, somewhat blurring the degree to which either party can be held accountable for the state of the nation in midterm elections. Generally, it appears the president's party is more important to voters, with that party losing seats in seven of the last nine midterm elections. By contrast, the majority party in Congress has lost seats in four of the last nine midterms ....

Outlook: Americans' ratings of Congress hit new lows last year. After rebounding in the early part of 2009, they are back down to 21% -- just seven points above the all-time low, which would usually suggest higher seat turnover. With Democrats in control of both the presidency and Congress, they are clearly vulnerable in this respect. If there is added sentiment to "throw the bums out" -- which Gallup will measure next year by asking whether members of Congress deserve re-election -- that would only make the situation worse.

There's lots more at the link (via Memeorandum).

It's going to be a blowout. Last night was a huge harbinger. Recall Charlie Cook's report from August:

Many veteran Congressional election watchers, including Democratic ones, report an eerie sense of déjà vu, with a consensus forming that the chances of Democratic losses going higher than 20 seats is just as good as the chances of Democratic losses going lower than 20 seats. A new Gallup poll that shows Congress’ job disapproval at 70 percent among independents should provide little solace to Democrats. In the same poll, Congressional approval among independents is at 22 percent, with 31 percent approving overall, and 62 percent disapproving.

Also, see George Stephanopoulos' comments on Cook's analysis, "Charlie Cook: Political Landscape Should 'Terrify' Democrats." With last night's thumping, look for heavy duty updates to the earlier projections in the days ahead, and check back here for links and analysis.

Vulnerable Democratic Incuments to Obama, Pelosi, Reid: Your Socialist Agenda is Killing Us!

Now there's a message in the tea leaves for you!

From The Hill, "Democrats Feeling Angst Over 2010":

Vulnerable House and Senate Democrats want their leaders to skip the party’s controversial legislative agenda for next year to help save their seats in Congress.

In the run-up to the 2010 midterm elections, they don’t want to be forced to vote on climate change, immigration reform and gays in the military, which they say should be set aside so Congress can focus on jobs and the economy.

“It’s hard; the most important issue in front of us is the economy right now, and that’s where most of us really want to stay focused, the economy and jobs, that’s what our constituency is concerned about,” said Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D), who is facing a tough race next year in Arkansas.

Rep. Bob Etheridge (D), a centrist contemplating a run for Senate in North Carolina, helped Democratic leaders in the summer by voting for climate change legislation on the House floor.

He now wants Democratic leaders to narrow their focus on jobs and the economy.

“Three things ought to be the top priority: jobs, jobs and jobs,” he said.

Lincoln said that lawmakers should focus on passing healthcare reform and wait until next year to effect financial regulatory reform and reduce unemployment.

“That’s an awful lot to bite off and chew for right now,” said Lincoln, who described herself as “not in a hurry” to tackle climate change, an issue she has some jurisdiction over as chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee.

More at the link (via Memeorandum).

Also, Dan Balz, "Contests Serve as Warning to Democrats: It's Not 2008 Anymore," and Michael Barone, "Lessons From the 2009 Election Results."

So Much for Inevitability: Maine Becomes 31st State to Reject Same-Sex Marriage at the Polls

AmericaBlog, Steve Benen, Joe.My.God, Josh Marshall, Ordinary Gentlemen, Pam Spaulding, Andrew Sullivan, and Towleroad can suck on this, "Maine Voters Repeal Law Allowing Gay Marriage":

In a stinging setback for the national gay-rights movement, Maine voters narrowly decided to repeal the state’s new law allowing same-sex marriage.

With 87 percent of precincts reporting early Wednesday morning, 53 percent of voters had approved the repeal, ending an expensive and emotional fight that was closely watched around the country as a referendum on the national gay-marriage movement. Polls had suggested a much closer race ....

With the repeal of the same-sex marriage law, Maine became the 31st state to reject same-sex marriage at the ballot box. Five other states — Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, New Hampshire and Vermont — have legalized same-sex marriage, but only through court rulings and legislative action.

The Maine vote was particularly discouraging for gay-rights groups because it took place in New England, the region that has been the most open to same-sex marriage, and because opponents of the repeal had far outspent backers. Gov. John Baldacci, a Democrat, had enthusiastically backed the state law allowing gay marriage, passed by the legislature in May but put on hold until the referendum took place.

Also, Ed Morrissey, "Gay Marriage Rejected in Maine." And, "Mainers Vote Down Gay Marriage Law." (Via Memeorandum.)

Hoffman Concedes to Owens in New York's 23rd (VIDEO)

Okay, here's the video from WWNYTV, "Hoffman Concedes to Owens in 23rd Congressional District Race":

On a night that's nothing short of a massive repudiation of the Democratic Party, Doug Hoffman's drama in Upstate New York serves as a wake up call to both RINO collaborationists and ACORN-DIABLOs. As Hoffman exclaimed in his concession, "This is only one fight in the battle."

Michelle Malkin reports on the message to the Republicans, "The GOP Elite's $1 Million Object Lesson — and the Message of NY-23":

Conservatives owe NY-23 candidate Doug Hoffman immeasurable gratitude. He overcame impossible odds (single digits just a month ago) to come within two points of defeating Democrat Bill Owens. Hoffman had zero name recognition. National Republican Party officials dumped nearly $1 million into the race on behalf of radical leftist GOP candidate Dede Scozzafava, who then turned around, endorsed Owens and siphoned off 5 percent of the vote with her name still on the ballot after she dropped out.

Conservatives’ money went to pay for specious attack ads against Hoffman run by the NRCC like this.

Conservatives’ money went to support a GOP candidate who shares the same socialist alliances with fellow SEIU/ACORN/New Party/Working Families Party activist Patrick Gaspard, the Obama White House political director who intervened in the race to secure Scozzafava’s endorsement of Owens.

Hoffman’s candidacy illuminated the stark difference between GOP political opportunists willing to pimp out their endorsements to any old ACORN-embracing, Working Families Party-consorting, Big Labor crony who puts an “R” by her name — and movement conservatives who refuse to “mooooderate” for the politically expedient sake of mooooderation as dictated by out-of-touch Beltway party leaders. The NRCC/RNC’s $1 million debacle will cost much more than that.

As I’ve repeated many times over the last several weeks:

One thing is guaranteed at the conclusion of the NY-23 special congressional election: The Beltway Republicans who endorsed radical leftist Dede Scozzafava are going to have indelible egg stains on their faces. And GOP establishment fund-raising organizations will be the poorer for it ...

Okay, Michelle focuses on Hoffman's warning shot to the GOP. But what about the Dems? Well, not only will the leftist media establishment be downplaying the monumental conservative victories in New Jersey and Virginia, Bob Owen's victory in NY-23 will be played up like the 1932 New Deal Realignment.

Here's Roy Edroso, for example, "Tea Party Over? Hoffman Concedes in NY-23, Democrat Owens Takes Seat Held by GOP Since '93."

And the New York Daily News, "Democrat Owens Beats Conservative Hoffman Who Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh Supported."

And the New York Times, "Conservative Loses Upstate House Race in Blow to Right" (via).

The Politico, "Owens Preserves Bright Spot for Dems."

The Reid Report, "Dede's Revenge: Hoffman Concedes in New York 23."

The only straight-up, no-spin article I've found is at the Wall Street Journal, "Democrat Wins New York House Race."

The 23rd congressional district will hold a GOP primary next year. Doug Hoffman will be the frontrunner for the Republican nomination - AS A CONSERVATIVE. As Robert Stacy McCain indicates, "Prediction: Hoffmania Will Continue."

Readers can help Doug Hoffman in his election efforts with a campaign donation. Check the Hoffman for Congress homepage.

Updates on this story throughout the day ...

Two Down, One to Go: Chris Christie Wins N.J. Governor Race - UPDATE: Not Optimistic in NY-23, Off to Bed...But Awesome Day for Conservatives

From The Hill, "Chris Chistie Wins New Jersey; GOP Sweeps Governors' Races":

Two Republicans will take over for Democratic governors after the GOP swept to victory on Tuesday, giving the beleagured party hope a year after devastating defeats.

Former Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell (R) is the governor-elect of the Commonwealth after winning a race focused on local issues, rather than national dynamics.

McDonnell defeated state Sen. Creigh Deeds (D), according to early election results.

And former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie (R) lead Gov. Jon Corzine (D) in early election results, with independent candidate Chris Daggett becoming a veritable non-factor.

Republicans have cast the races for governor as a referendum on President Barack Obama's early tenure, arguing that the races are the first in a series of comebacks for the party. Others have said it shows voters are willing to give the GOP a second look, just a year removed from devastating electoral losses.

But exit polls showed just 42 percent of voters considered Obama in Virginia. Just under a quarter used their vote to express opposition to the president, while 18 percent said their vote was to support Obama. In Virginia, 20 percent of voters made their picks to oppose Obama, while 19 percent were trying to support him.

Obama campaigned several times for both Deeds and Corzine. He made a stop at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va., last week, then held two rallies on Corzine's behalf over the weekend.

Plus, the New York Times, "Christie Wins for G.O.P. in New Jersey."

Now, NY-23 is apparently lookiing iffy. See, Robert Stacy McCain is liveblogging, but check this page at The Saratogian.

Tea Party Victory! ObamaCare Dead in Senate: No Health Care Legislation This Year; Harry Reid, 'We're Not Going to Be Bound by Any Timelines'

The writing is on the wall spells MASSIVE DEMOCRATIC FAIL!

From the Wall Street Journal, "Cost-Estimate Delay Stalls US Senate Health Bill":

Senate Democrats, hampered by a delayed cost estimate for Senate health-care legislation and a shortening window of time, indicated that Congress may not be able to pass a health-care bill this year.

Aides say that the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office will not finish a cost estimate for Democratic health-care legislation by the end of the week. Senate Democrats are waiting for the estimate before unveiling the bill and bringing it to the Senate floor for debate.

Asked whether Congress may not be able to pass health-care legislation this year, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) said Democrats would "do this the right way, not the fast way."

"We're not going to be bound by any timelines," Reid said. "We want quality legislation, and we're going to do that."

Reid said he is having regular discussions with CBO Director Douglas Elmendorf and that he has "great admiration for the work that they do."

"I wish I could blame it on CBO," Reid said. "They're doing their very best."

It's clear that the tea parties, which have culminated in the triumph of grassroots conservatism in New York and Virginia (and perhaps New Jersey as well), is disorienting and destabilizing the Democratic big government coaltion.

The right's on track for major gains in 2010, and it's no doubt that healthcare "reform" going to be scaled back dramatically when it comes back to Congress in the new year.

RELATED: ABC News, "'09 Exit Polls: Vast Economic Discontent Spells Trouble for Dems in 2010" via Memeorandum.

One Down, Two to Go: Bob McDonnell Wins Virginia Governor Race

From the New York Times, "Republican Wins Virginia Governor Race":

Robert F. McDonnell, a Republican and a former state attorney general, won a decisive victory in Virginia’s governor’s race Tuesday, a stark reversal of fortune for Democrats who have held control in Richmond for the past eight years.

Mr. McDonnell defeated the Democratic candidate, R. Creigh Deeds, an 18-year state senator from rural Bath County in western Virginia.

Voters also went to the polls to decide a closely contested race for governor in New Jersey, where early returns showed Gov. Jon S. Corzine, the wealthy Democratic incumbent, trailing his Republican challenger, Christopher J. Christie.

An in upstate New York, voters were deciding a Congressional race that has been seen as a test of hard-line conservatives who are seeking to oppose or unseat moderate Republican candidates in next year’s elections. Mayoral races were taking place in several major cities, including New York, where Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg is seeking a third term, and Atlanta, where there was a possibility that a white mayor would be elected for the first time in decades. Maine was holding a referendum on whether to ban same-sex marriage.

In Virginia, Republicans cited their victory as a repudiation of the Obama administration and the national Democratic Party’s agenda, especially that of outgoing Gov. Tim Kaine, who serves as the chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

See also, the Politico, "GOP Sweeps Virginia Elections" (via Memeorandum). And Pat in Shreveport has more, "So much for the right wing fringe!"

McDonnell Leads in Virginia: Democrats Prepare Al Franken Election Theft Operation

CBS News reports, "Republican McDonnell Leading in Virginia":

As the polls close in Virginia, CBS News estimates based on early exit poll results that Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell is leading Democratic candidate Creigh Deeds.

Yet, from Red State, "To the Christie Campaign: Remember Norm Coleman and Defend Your Victory":

The race is neck and neck between Republican Chris Christie and the incumbent Jon Corzine in New Jersey. Whether or not this is because of “Independent” Chris Daggett, the man being sponsored by the Democratic Party and the deep pockets of Jon Corzine to split the anti-incumbent vote and thereby ensure Corzine gets to continue his misadministration in Trenton for the next four years, is not the issue.

The SIEU (i.e. ACORN) and the Democrats, as expected, have filed suit to ensure that at least 3000 of their manufactured voters be allowed to cast absentee ballots. These voters are known to be fake because their signatures are wildly different from that on file. As John Fund informs;

Democratic Party lawyer Paul Josephson wrote New Jersey’s secretary of state asking her “to instruct County Clerks not to deny applications on the basis of signature comparison alone.” Mr. Josephson maintained that county clerks “may be overworked and are likely not trained in handwriting analysis” and insisted that voters with suspect applications should be allowed to cast provisional ballots. Those ballots, of course, would then provide a pool of votes that would be subject to litigation in any recount, with the occupant of New Jersey’s highest office determined by Florida 2000-style scrutiny of ballot applications.

What the Democrats are hoping for is a replay of Minnesota - where a bunch of Scuzzies to provide “bipartisan” cover, a partisan Secretary of State and liberal Democrats would blatantly steal the election for their candidate while the Republican is too terrified of offending liberal journalists to do a thing about it.

The question is whether or not Chris Christie is prepared (unlike Norm Coleman) to defend his victory in the post-Election battles that have become far too common in American politics since Al Gore called Bush to withdraw his concession in 2000. The instant the polls close tonight, the Christie Campaign should be on war footing, with advertising dollars ready to blanket the airwaves and loudly trumpet every act of theft and fraud by whatever body is put in charge of overseeing any recount, no matter how many times it is emphasized that the body “Bipartisan” and therefore holy and above reproach.

Christie should not make the mistake of aping Norm Coleman’s strategy of grinning and bearing it in a bid to appear “moderate” and “above the fray”. There will be shrieks from liberal columnists on print and broadcast warning Christie not to fight it and even to concede even if he is in the lead. The Democrats will certainly accuse him of voter suppression, “hate” and “death threats”. But this is standard operating procedure - he would be accused of it no matter how politely and quietly his campaign objects to votes found next week in Jon Corzine’s home in New York being added to the tally. Or even if he says nothing at all.

Read the whole thing.

But check Fox News as well, "Democrats, Republicans Prepare for Possible Legal Battle in New Jersey Race":

Before the polls even close in New Jersey, Democrats and Republicans there are already bracing for a possible post-election court fight in the airtight race.

Democratic Party officials say they are fully prepared for any legal possibility should the race be unresolved in the next few days and end up in a recount or other messy scenario ...

Election Day Referendum on Democratic Big Government

From Howard Fineman, "One Year Later, Big Test for Big Government":

President Barack Obama believes in the saving grace of the federal government.

But do the American people?

In a time of economic uncertainty and fear, that is the core question implicit — and sometimes explicit — on Election Day 2009.

After a year of sweeping, even breathtaking governmental action to revive the economy — bailouts, stimulus packages, new regulations and trillions of newly printed dollars and debt — is the country really better off and on the road to recovery?

The answer that Obama and the Democrats will hear tonight is likely to be a loud “we’re not sure.” Not that the Republicans should gloat; voters distrust their party as much, if not more.

Whatever the final tallies, it’s clear that our politics are back to square one: to the economy and what government can best do (or not do) to salvage and sustain it. The culture wars of past decades will never end, but we no longer have the luxury to dwell obsessively on matters of behavior and lifestyle.

Economic insecurity is what put candidate Obama over the top in 2008; voters put aside their cultural concerns about him. But now that same economic fear — and doubts about the wisdom of Obama’s solutions — is boosting Republican chances.

Actually, there's more to it -- it's about the scope and size of government, and about restoring dignity and honesty to government.

In any case, the video, with Mark Ambinder of the Atlantic, and Dana Milbank of the Washington Post, is an especially good example of the Beltway cocooning effect -- i.e., extremely well-connected commentators who still don't fully get what's happening on the ground.

More tonight ...

Jodie Evans Calls for Kidnapping of George and Laura Bush!

More from our terrorist-backing friends at Code Pink. Via Big Government, "Obama Funder Jodie Evans Calls for Kidnapping of George and Laura Bush":

One of President Barack Obama’s top funders, Code Pink’s Jodie Evans, is encouraging the kidnapping of former President George W. Bush and his wife Laura, according to new statements issued this week by Jodie Evans and Code Pink.

While it might be tempting to look at this latest effort by Code Pink as an innocuous publicity campaign, Code Pink’s history of working with state sponsors of terrorism and supporting violent protest against President Bush–and their near successful arrest of then-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales–is cause for concern.

Two weeks after meeting Obama at a high dollar fundraiser in San Francisco, Jodie Evans and Code Pink issued a call to action urging vigilantism against President Bush:

When Jodie Evans delivered the voices of Afghan women to President Obama, she was also delivering a demand for accountability. The women of Afghanistan are calling for accountability from the US as well as from the corrupt Afghan leaders that our government supports. How can we have true peace or justice if our leadership doesn’t own up to the devastation they have wrought?

…You can also use our website to track where the war criminals will be and how to do a citizen’s arrest action! Let Bush’s “motivational speaking tour” motivate you to arrest the war criminal!

…With your $10 donation you will receive a gift of our newest War Criminals playing cards–we hope the cards educate you and inspire you to grab a set of pink handcuffs and go make a citizen’s arrest, yourself. Our “how-to-arrest-a-war-criminal” guide is included!

Thank you for helping to hold these war criminals accountable!

Slapping the cuffs on for peace,

Dana, Emily, Farida, Gael, Gayle, Janet, Jodie, Marina, Medea, Nancy, Paris, Rae, Suzanne, and Whitney

The actions being urged and guided by Jodie Evans and Code Pink could result in federal kidnapping charges against someone who takes up their call for vigilantism–or their death as the Bushes still have Secret Service protection.

The second link goes "Code Pink Alerts: October 29."

See the rest of Big Government's exposé, here.

Doug Hoffman: 'Voters Ready to Stop the Nancy Pelosi Agenda'

From Robert Stacy McCain, "NY23: Hoffman is Asked to React to Limbaugh's Dede 'Bestiality' Comment":

Jude Seymour of the Watertown (N.Y.) Daily Times is a nice guy, who let me use his office computer two weeks ago when I first came up to cover this campaign. Exactly why he chose this occasion to spring a "gotcha" question on Doug Hoffman, I don't know. Watch the video, and make your own judgment.

I didn't quote that part in the title of this post.

See also, "Hoffman Ahead as Wacky Race in New York 23 Reaches Finish Line," via Memeorandum.

Message to GOP Bosses: Conservatives Got Game in New York and Nationwide!

From the Los Angeles Times, "Conservatives Emboldened by Moves in New York Election":

The upstate rebellion that drove a moderate Republican off the ballot in a special House election is sending a message likely to resonate in upcoming races: Don't ignore the grass roots of the right.

The triumph of conservative forces over the Republican Party establishment in upstate New York has emboldened like-minded activists around the country, and it could drive the GOP sharply to the right as it lines up candidates for the 2010 midterm congressional elections.

The rebellion that drove a moderate Republican off the ballot in a special House election today is sending a clear message to the party leadership and its candidates: Ignore the conservative grass roots at your peril.

That message is likely to resonate in the coming months in several congressional primaries and in races where third-party challenges are springing up and threatening to divide the Republican vote.

In Columbus, Ohio, a conservative has decided to run for the House because he does not see enough difference between Democratic Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy and her leading Republican opponent.

In southern Virginia, where Democratic Rep. Tom Perriello has been expected to face a tough fight for a second term, a conservative is campaigning against a Republican he considers a RINO -- Republican in Name Only.

The most prominent battlefield on which the conservative wildfire is spreading is Florida, where Gov. Charlie Crist, the GOP front-runner for the Senate nomination in 2010, faces a spirited challenge from a conservative former state House speaker, Marco Rubio.

That's why all eyes in the party will be turned toward the northern reaches of New York in today's off-year elections. In the state's 23rd Congressional District, voters face a choice between Democratic lawyer Bill Owens and businessman Doug Hoffman, who is running on the Conservative Party ticket.

Hoffman's persistent charges that the Republican Party's hand-picked candidate, state Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava, was too liberal -- an assertion echoed by conservative activists nationwide -- resulted in her dropping out of the race Saturday.

"If Hoffman wins this, it will be like dropping a bomb into the center of the Republican caucus," said David Keene, head of the American Conservative Union. "Conservative leaders are standing up and saying, 'On to Florida.' " Even if Hoffman doesn't win, experts say waves will rock the GOP.

See also, Matt Lewis, "NY-23: How Sarah Palin Stands to Win (and Charlie Crist Stands to Lose)." (Via Memeorandum.)

Photo Credit: Doug Hoffman for Congress, "Doug attends the St. Lawrence County Fair in Gouverneur on Aug. 7 where he met numerous supporters and well-wishers."