Republicans lost last night. Yes, they lost, because Republicans couldn't generate the turnout. In the last four years, the Republicans didn't do anything except to squabble over pork money. Republicans failed to learn the lesson they should have learned in 1992, when Republicans act like Democrats, they lose.
In the last few weeks before the election, the Republican pundits big selling point was to try to scare their audience about the horror of Nancy as Speaker. That's an "inside the Beltway" mentality. Demonizing your opponent will only get you 45% of the vote. This one reason why Kerry lost in 2004, but Republicans failed to learn any lesson. You need successes to run on as well.
Iraq: I don't think Americans want us to leave, but they do expect victory or progress towards victory, even if that requires temporarily being more aggressive. If a pro football coach isn't doing well, he is replaced. You may like the man personally, but change him out nonetheless. Maybe you start dropping the hammer on types like Muqtada Al-Sadr. Maybe you actually try to rally the American people's will to fight. First stop calling it the "War on Terror" ... WWII was not the "War on Blitzkrieg."
Social Security: Bush tried to reform it, but spineless Republican Congressional leaders were afraid of being called extremists and felt that by challenging the status quo, they could hang onto power better.
Tax Cuts: An easy one would have been to make the tax cuts permanent, but spineless leaders failed to do even that.
Borders: Amnesty for illegals, calling the Minutemen "vigilantes", lip service on border security, etc.
Scandals: We all know about Mark Foley, but whatever happen to William Jefferson (D-La) who got caught stealing money by the FBI? Not only did the Republicans not play a full court press, Hasert defended the guy.... which reeks of "we have something also to hide."
Spending: Many Republicans completely abandoned the idea of limited government and began squabbling over pork spending.
Judges: Republican activists had to twist Bush's arm to get him to appoint Alito. Bill Frist never challenged the Democrats judicial filibuster. This spells weakness.
The Silver Lining: Republicans will start acting like Republicans again. We'll get new leaders in the House and the Senate. This could save the 2008 election. If Republicans reluctantly went to the polls again, nothing would have changed in the mindset of the Republican leadership and voter apathy would have finally crept into the 2008 election.
Other thoughts: There won't be one major story on voting problems or voter "disenfranchisement." Interesting column at Townhall on what Bush should say... but he wouldn't.
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