A Little Humility, Please -- From Everyone
It seems to me the real lesson out of yesterday’s mixed-bag of election results is the need for a lot more HUMILITY – from everyone. From Congressional Democrats, obviously – they took one of the worst shellackings in two generations, even if a few of their at-risk senators managed to avoid the shrapnel. And no, it wasn’t just because of “the economy.” An awful lot of it was due to the “Cornhusker kickback” and the “Louisiana purchase” and “you have to pass it to see what’s in it” and “we don’t need no stinkin’ budget.” From President Obama, certainly. When hardly any Democrat running for office will even mention your signature health care reform (and most of those who do, do so critically), and four out of your five biggest “accomplishments” remain decidedly and persistently unpopular with the voting public – yes, you might have had something to do with the shellacking.
But humility is equally in order from the Republican establishment, too. They may have emerged as the most obvious “winners,” but this was hardly their victory alone. Without the energy and enthusiasm engendered by grass-roots forces they had little to do with unleashing and only slowly embraced, I doubt they would have emerged even with a majority in the House, never mind an historic gain. And they need to remember that their party remains unpopular – more people voted against the other guys than for them. And finally, from the Tea Parties – yes, they emerged from nowhere to become a force to be reckoned with, and yes, they did score some impressive wins. But they also suffered some high-profile defeats – they don’t have any Magic Pixie Dust – and they need to remember that however many enthusiastic Tea Partiers there are out there, this is not yet a “Tea Party” nation, or even close to it.
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Jun '10
Re: A Little Humility, Please -- From Everyone
Amen!!
May '10
Re: A Little Humility, Please -- From Everyone
Not from me. There's a time and place for humility. It ain't on the interwebs after thumpin. Gloat, gloat, gloat. Man, are the libs ever depressed.
Don't rob us of our joy just yet, Steve.
May '10
Re: A Little Humility, Please -- From Everyone
Well said, Steve. I plead guilty to tea party excess and am feeling wholesomely sobered today. Also more admiring of experienced political watchers like Jim Geraghty who didn't get carried away in the lead up.
May '10
Re: A Little Humility, Please -- From Everyone
Don't hold your breath, Steve. That crowd doesn't do "humility" very well or very often.
It will be interesting to see how the shotgun marriage between the Tea Party and the Republicans matures. Without the Tea Party the Republicans have no grassroots excitement, and without the Republicans the Tea Party has no party, so to speak, and trouble winning tough elections. It's hard to win in the big-leagues of politics, but look at how well things can go when everyone works together (Florida?).
Aug '10
Re: A Little Humility, Please -- From Everyone
Yes, exactly right. Pride unchecked is like an insidious, invisible cancer. Victor Davis Hanson has brilliant writing on the Greek idea of hubris inexorably attracting Nemisis,
"the spirit of divine retribution, vengeful fate personified, the remorseless goddess".
Mr. President, you are dancing on thin ice.
Re: A Little Humility, Please -- From Everyone
Tell it to 22 year Democrat Incumbent Frank Pallone. Thanks to his gerrymandered district he wins every election by 33 points. The Tea Partier Anna Little cut that lead down to 10 points this year (she did so with no negative ads).
So did Pallone act with humility? No. Instead he took the stage right when the race was called without waiting for Anna Little to call him and congratulate him (incredibly bad form!). He proceeded to bash the Tea Party in his acceptance speech.
What a clod. We have to redraw these lines next year.
Edited on Nov 3, 2010 at 3:56pmMay '10
Re: A Little Humility, Please -- From Everyone
An nice review from CSM of the Tea Party's wins and losses. I think they have it about right.
Jul '10
Re: A Little Humility, Please -- From Everyone
River: Yes, exactly right. Pride unchecked is like an insidious, invisible cancer. Victor Davis Hanson has brilliant writing on the Greek idea of hubris inexorably attracting Nemisis,
"the spirit of divine retribution, vengeful fate personified, the remorseless goddess".
Mr. President, you are dancing on thin ice. · Nov 3 at 3:34pm
I'd like to see VDH's take on the California election and how decline is a choice.
Oct '10
Re: A Little Humility, Please -- From Everyone
the tea party express and sarah palin--humbled!
Oct '10
Re: A Little Humility, Please -- From Everyone
I left the Republican party over a decade ago and while I'm happy that they soundly defeated the Democrats this week, my expectations for them are essentially zero given how badly the screwed up the last time they were in power.
I also have to admit a sinking feeling seeing McConnell, Boehner, and Barbour standing together talking as the leadership of the party and realizing that the same people who did so much damage to the country last time they were in power are running the show again this time.
I hope they don't make the mistake of thinking that people like me actually trust them. It's going to take a lot of effort on their part before those of us who were burned by the GOP in the 1990s begin to warm to them again.
Oct '10
Re: A Little Humility, Please -- From Everyone
Tommy De Seno:
What a clod. We have to redraw these lines next year.
One of the reasons we lost the constitution is because of all of the corrupt gerrymandering and redistricting that the political class regardless of party affiliation have engaged in over the years. I'd challenge anyone who says that we have truly free elections in this country when you have districts that are specifically designed to be safe seats for a particular party.
I hope the Republicans resist the temptation to act in a partisan political matter when it comes to redistricting, but I know better. They'll be just as corrupt as they and the Democrats have been in the past.