The Truth About The 2009 Elections

The numbers have been crunched and for both parties the truth hurts. I'll start with the Republican's because I'm a Democrat, and it makes me happier to give them bad news.

For the Republican Party they picked up two fairly big Governor seats in Virginia, and New Jersey. Jon Corzine was a media favorite because of his charisma, but the simple fact was he wasn't serving his constituency the way he was MSNBC. Going into the day his approval rating was 39%, and we'd known for a while that seat was lost.

I wish moderate Chris Christie luck in straightening out that state's fiscal situation, and meeting all of the challenges he's going to face. The win shows that politics of the state out way the politics of the nation, at least locally, and the high property taxes, and corruption scandals have really made this win possible.

In  Virginia, Creigh Deeds "Democrat" spent his time running away from President Obama's policy choices, bashing progressives, and generally made a fool of himself. Stunningly the states newly minted "Obama Democrats" stayed home and he was soundly defeated. I hope this is a lesson to any candidate, insult your base in a runoff and watch them stay home.

The big win of the day for the Republicans was the fact that the hot button progressive rally banner now has a record of 0-31 as my home state of Maine voted narrowly to overturn a law signed and passed by Governor Baldacci that would have made marriage for gay and lesbian's legal, and have the same benefits as traditional couples. My stance on the issue is complex and deserves my undivided attention to properly justify it. Which I'm sure I'll do at some point, in the future.

While this has been used as the rally cry for the rebirth of the republican party, with Michael Steele about to bust out a New Kidz On The Block rap he memorized to show the youngsters his flyness. The data seem to bare none of this out.

A party that has won a general election the year before, and has majority leadership of one side of congress at least, has NEVER, and I repeat NEVER won an important seat in a runoff the following year.

Why? Because when you have it all, its hard to moderate, and educate yourself to get to a polling place to vote on something of lesser importance. Add in the trendy hipster votes(ie 18-29 year olds) general lack of reliability and you'll see this is, although concerning, nothing to hang your hat on for 2010, or 2012.

With this sudden rebirth being peddled to the masses. Right Wing Radio took one square in the balls in NY-23's race as Conservative candidate Doug Hoffman was struck down, by  last choice candidate of the Democratic Party Bill Owens in a district that hasn't gone left since the Civil War, with an assist from the 5% of voters that posthumously voted for Scozzafava. In opposition of Malkin's claims that she's a “lefty” in disguise.

As if learning nothing from the fact, that a district that is 75% Republican couldn't elect your "Conservative” candidate, they'll try again, this time the shamed candidate will be former 2008 Vice Presidential consideration Carly Fiorina. As she'll attempt to unseat Barbara Boxer. Somehow I don't see that going very well, how about you?

Dick Armey says this is the tip of the spear for the cleansing of the Republican Party. I for one hope it is, I like the idea of 70 Democratic Senate seats.  In the short term however I'll enjoy the fact that a districts final holder will be a democrats as the 2010 Census is sure to contract that district.

The overriding theme across the night is perhaps the most disconcerting. The Youth Vote, our vote, didn't show up when the lights weren't large and the stakes weren't high.

We're the Mountain Dew generation, and unfortunately that means that midterm races will most likely always be stacked against the Democratic party, and even in the bi-yearly ellections we'll only vote if transcendent names have D's next to their names. This is unfortunate because we likely won't be talking about young voters, in the terms of who we'll vote for. But rather IF we'll vote at all.