I Was Wrong
What can I say? I underestimated the anti-Republican sentiment, both in Colorado and nationally. But I would caution members of the political Left from reading too much into this as some sort of ideological shift in their direction.
Nationally, it represents a failure of many GOP officials to live up to their principles and a weariness with the war in Iraq. Maybe a mandate to raise the minimum wage … after that, voters may be asking themselves what they were thinking, but sometimes they feel they have no choice but to kick out some of the bums only to find different bums in charge. C’est la vie when it comes to politics.
Worthwhile reads:
– Philip Klein in The American Spectator
– John Podhoretz in New York Post
Congratulations to Colorado’s new governor Bill Ritter, who will have larger majorities in both houses of the state legislature to push forward the Democrat agenda. Be assured the eyes of this blog and others will be fixed on the overreaches that are sure to come.
The charge then is clear to Republicans in this state. Having reached bottom, it is time to rebuild. Like the national party, it is time to return to a soul of fiscal conservatism. Let’s hope then that the silly flirtation with “Big Government Conservatism” is over. Republicans planning for 2008 should watch some game tape from 1994.
Good news from Colorado: Amendment 43 won, Referendum I lost, Amendment 44 lost, GOP has control of State Board of Education (no big surprise).
Concerning the RMA, let me briefly observe that Michael is right, and I am waiting with interest to read post-election commentary from Joshua.
As the GOP needs time to go into retreat, then, so will this blog for awhile – at least on matters of politics and public policy.
In the meantime – M Go Blue, Beat Ohio State!