Day: November 2, 2010

by

On Election Day 2010 Tidbits

With Election Day 2010 upon us, here are some random shorts.

First, and most importantly, I hope you exercise your right to vote.

I think the Republicans will gain control of at least chamber – getting both is a longer shot, but possible. Nonetheless, I wonder how much stalemate lies ahead.

I look forward to the press conferences tonight and over the next few days. I can hear the lines already: America has spoken. The voters want a change. The American public has corrected the direction. We know what the people have said they want. Blah, blah, blah … Did we hear the same in 2008?

I remain convinced that politicians slogan is “party above country.” Proof lies in Senator Mitch McConnell recent statement, “The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president.”

As Republicans jump for joy about gaining support from independents, here’s what they don’t know. Independent moderates vote against a party, not for one. Independent moderates vote parties out, not vote parties in. In other words, the odds of the winners misreading the results are great – just as stated in the previous paragraph.

For anyone needing to know more about the mindset of independent moderates, see this past post. Pew Research Center published this study in September about independents and partisans.

Democrats misread the nation in 2008, and I am confident that the Republicans will miss read us in 2010. After all, the GOP thinks the public is only mad at Democrats.

Some Tea Party candidates will win. I will be interested to see how it unfolds. Will they stand-pat on their ideals and then buck the GOP; or will they cave in to GOP pressure and conform? How will GOP leadership calm the turbulent in-house waters? Will they be one-termers?

Regardless of the results, if the politicians were serious about change, the party would elect different leaders. Names like Pelosi, Boehner, Reid, and McConnell would be out on both sides. So would their lieutenants. I know – I’m dreaming – although Nevada voters seem headed toward taking care of one of the problems – but I shake my head at their replacement.

Here are a few good reads about Election 2010.