Politics (Ugh)

This is the first election in my memory where the winners, at least many of them will realize that they are really the lesser of two evils. Perhaps three evils.

It has always been my impression that politicians consider their 1,000 vote margin, a “mandate.” This time candidates actually have been defeated in the primaries with such gusto that very few candidates are feeling secure.

Rasmussen Reports that although the voters are rejecting the Democrats, they don’t like the Republicans any better and almost everyone admits the TEA Party needs to vett their candidates MUCH better.

It may have always been thus, but this time the candidates seem to better understand that each one is not the Savior of the World. Certainly both Brown and Whittman acknowledge reality. Even a megalomaniac like President Obama has been (somewhat) humbled. The “We are the ones we have been waiting for,” is no more, and something approaching reality has set in.

Partially.

The Democrats will put the best face on their rejection, but they understand that it is just window dressing. When Barney Frank is in the race of his life, and Feingold is being crushed, there is little mistaking the mood of the country.

There will be enough victories for each side to claim they won, and each side will, but everyone knows each side lost. Some lost more than others.

The voters will have lost most of all. Until we can get better candidates, who then become better legislators, the cycle will repeat. I don’t have much hope for the “D” team improving, or the “R” team for that matter.

The TEA Party movement lacks the scoliosis of the liver and  arthritis of the joints that keeps Ds and Rs from making the necessary adjustments, if The TEAs are willing to admit that just possibly they could have swept the board with less flawed and better prepared candidates. If they get their backs up and refuse to accept that they needs to have a certain amount of professionalism, then we will have three failed political movements and the cynicism will grow still further.

Watching the Opposition

My respect for Chris Matthews continues to grow – he is a BIG Liberal, with a capital “L” – but he is straight up. When he found out that a Florida Democrat had lied on his program, he didn’t duck the issue he called her on it.

I have seen him destroy Democrat Congressmen when they came uprepared, thinking that Chris was a Democrat and give a Democrat a pass. He won’t.

President Obama and the Clinton’s have never had a bigger supporter, but he has been warning the Democrats for months that they were going to have their heads handed to them in the mid-term elections – and today he is predicting 70 House seats for the Republicans and 10 Senate seats.

My numbers are fewer than that. I see 55 and seven, but Chris doesn’t sugar coat the numbers. The DNC head was on TV over the weekend predicting Democrats will hold the House and the Senate. That is simply insane, but no one will call him on it Wednesday.

Chris is an honest Liberal. He has been a Senate staffer and knows the ins and outs of the internal game.

And, he plays Hardball.

I watch O’Reilly, and Gretta but if I miss them I miss them. I DVR Chris so I never miss him.