“Democrats will spin Harry Reid’s victory and cling to it like the American people allegedly cling to their Bibles and guns, but I see a huge silver lining here for conservatives. … Yes, Reid would have made a great trophy on the GOP’s mantle. But cheer up: He’s even better as a leader of Senate Democrats — depending on your point of view.” –columnist Stephen Spruiell
“President Obama listed his accomplishments in office on Urban Radio Tuesday.
No one gives him enough credit. Barack Obama took something that was in terrible
shape and brought it back from the brink of disaster …. and that something was
the Republican Party.”–comedian Argus Hamilton
Thanks to the readers who sent along the quotes above. I suspect that the President and Harry Reid alike realize how much Reid’s pro-gun stance contributed to his success. It’s a much needed reminder that you don’t need to be a registered Republican to believe in the civil rights of firearms owners.
But, hey, I’m no political pundit. That’s why I’d like to ask all of you reading this to contribute YOUR thoughts in the comments section below. What’s YOUR take on the election results?
I am very pleased with the election results. Locally, in PA we now have a Governor that will sign into law the recently debated and passed by the PA House and Senate Castle Doctrine Law and we prevented a far-left Senator (Joe Sestak-D) from being elected.
Overall nationally I am proud that the people have slapped DC in the side of the head and at least for now has their attention. Hopefully they will remember this and put the will of the people over their own agendas.
I think that maybe Washington is getting a message, that we are so tired of this goverment who wants to take our rights, guns and liberty’s just wish we could have gotten Reid out, but guess we have to be thankful for what we did get.
It is hard to say how I feel about the election results. I voted based on the Second Amendment. but that was because often it was the only way to choose between equally bad choices (and I am including third parties in this). I admit on the local level in one race I did not follow this rule. We have a DA who has been helping to clear people wrongly convicted (often convicted because of what bordered on prosecutorial misconduct). He may not be completely pro-gun. But, he is completely pro-justice. I could not say the same about his opponent.
I’m very happy to hear that Kansas voters enacted a “second amendment” into their own state constitution. Keep it going!
I’m not overjoyed with the election results. Boxer, Pelosi, Frank, and Reid and others are still employed. We have much work to do in 2012. and 2016 and beyond. We can’t simply wring our hands and say we’re done. This is a lifetime effort to flush their true agenda. We’ll never stop!
Wish we had taken the senate too. With walker in we’ll have a chance to get ccw in Wi.
I just hope the Tea-party movement makes good on the comment I heard last night; that they intended to hold the Republicans feet to the fire over legislating the will of the people.
As much as I detest Reid, at least he is pro gun and better to have had him win and remain in the Senate where the dems still have control…than have Schumer which would not be good.
Yesterday was a good day. As mentioned above, here in Kansas we passed a Const. amendment for individual right to bear arms.
There is nothing wrong with Kansas
I am disappointed in the Indiana senate election. Dan Coats, the Republican who won, voted for the assault weapon ban in 1994 and gets only a C+ from the NRA. Brad Ellsworth, the Democrat, gets an A from the NRA; he co-sponsored and voted for a wide number of pro-gun initiatives.
In Arizona, Jan Brewer won re-election. She’s being rewarded for her stance on immigration as well as guns. She signed the ‘Constitutional Carry’ law into effect; making Arizona on par with Alaska and Vermont for gun owners/carriers.
This is far from over. If voters become lax, then the pendulum will swing back the other way, again.
Happy days are here again….the skys are clear again…
Reed is not really pro-gun. A check of his voting record will substantiate that. He was in some sort of agreement with the NRA though that caused him to keep anti-gun bills from coming to the floor – not that any of them would have passed.
His value is that he is not Chuck Schumer, who would probably have succeed him had he lost. Schumer is rapidly anti-Second Amendment and anti-freedom. He works hand in hand with sap sucking peckerwood mayor of NYC.
Ohio lost several major pro-gun Democrats this year in exchange for two Republicans who voted for the AWB. It took a Democrat governor to get us workable concealed carry here, I just hope the Republicans are still looking over their shoulder on gun rights.
Personally I am amazed at how the Democrats squandered the successes of 2006. Was the mess of a healthcare bill, which solved none of the problems they were supposedly concerned about, worth that much political capital? I just hope the Republicans do a better job with their fiscal responsibility under a Democrat president than they did under Bush.
I am one who likes hard, fast victories. I don’t think that we can say that the country shifted to the right on gun issues, as the moderate Democrats were the ones who lost their jobs. The extreme ones are still waiting, still working toward a day of a “gun free America.” I think that today we can breath a small sigh of relief, but the pressure must be kept on both parties – to ensure that our rights are thought of by our legislators as concrete pillars, and not to be minimized or modified like people do living room wall colors – white-blocked and replaced with something that politicians find easier to work with. In Wisconsin, the Assembly, Senate and Governor shifted to the right. I think Wisconsin will see concealed carry in the next two years. The shift in Wisconsin has been a long time coming. However, Wisconsin should serve as a reminder to the rest of the nation that when people are placated – when they are given just enough to be happy, they will allow their government to snip away their rights and trounce their freedoms. This crop of politicians needs to be reminded that they are to stay the course, pursue OUR individual freedoms, and keep a watchful eye on those that have other agendas.
This is a start. Now the lame duck, running for cover liberals will be pushing through all the socialist trash they can, and Mr. President will be vetoing anything that even mildly conservative. The sound bites and liberal spin will be outrageous the next two years. Let us all keep our wits and be prepared for a “Perot” induced campaign and victory in 2012. You do remember that Perot got Mr. Bill elected, don’t you?
Great day in Maine… A very blue state elected a conservative governor and republican state house and senate… I may stay here yet! …we will see … Unfortunately we also elected two very liberal congress members, and the two gals (Susan and Olympia) were not on the senate block, but all and a a good day!
First of all let’s see how the newly selected conservatives will act once they go to the DC. Only time will tell. I would like to look at the bigger picture Vs couple of pro gun votes, specially the economy. Is the shipment of technical jobs to offshore resources will continue? Does the Dollar loses value causing major inflation? How about the state of housing and unemployment? For sure I would like to celebrate the major victories on 11/2, but at the same time I am very concerned if the special interests causing major issues for the country to the extend that people care about feeding their kids Vs thinking about who is pro gun…..with such events all bets are off ….like the entire constitution of our great country.
It is no good to be a pro-gun politician, if you are as dirty as a sewer in other areas. That is Harry Reid. We are simply lucky, that he is 2nd A. supportive. Overall, last night was wonderful, and thankfully we did NOT take the Senate. Let them take the blame for the next 2 years, while we hone and pick out 2nd A. favorites! Jack
I think we have sent DC a message (and local politicians) that they are here for US and NOT for THEMSELVES! Do what their people ask them to do and what they were elected for or get the hell out!
SC sent a REALLY LOUD MESSAGE!! After 27 years in office we “Sacked Spratt” John Spratt could not believe it last night and did not give in till’ this afternoon. It’s just an example of how untouchable these politicians think they are, he honestly could not step down once he found out he had been fired! It’s impossible you know… 🙂
I second Stacie’s comments. Reid has made some positive votes for gun rights, I must give him that. There is not much positive in the rest of his record. As far as Argus Hamilton’s comments are concerned… he has verified that there is truth in comedy. The Republicans now need to get to work and prove they are worthy.
What’s missing in much of the post-election commentary is any kind of appreciation of your statement here, Mas: “It’s a much needed reminder that you don’t need to be a registered Republican to believe in the civil rights of firearms owners.”
I read a lot of blogs that support the 2nd Amendment, and many of them imply that if you support the 2nd Amendment, you must of course support a host of Republican or conservative programs or positions. That is a losing proposition for the 2nd Amendment and for its supporters. How have we allowed support of the right to defend one’s life to become a political football? I have friends who would probably more loudly defend the right to keep and bear arms if they were not convinced that they would be typecast as an all-around conservative merely because they supported that one right.
We have allowed basic rights to become symbols of one party or one belief over another party or another belief, and every year that makes less sense.
For the record, I hold a concealed handgun permit and usually carry a .38 in my pocket… and I vote as a democrat.
I haven’t stopped being mad all day about the results here in Massachusetts. It’s pathetic that we couldn’t get an unethical cheat like Barney Frank out of office. The fact that so many Democrats are still here is comparable to an assault and battery on my wallet and way of life, every single day. I have come to the conclusion the people of Massachusetts like to be abused and lied to by their elected officials.
I am really glad to see that Rep. Pelosi is no longer Speaker of the House. The song from Wizard of Oz comes to mind “Ding dong the witch is dead, The wicked witch is dead ….”
I’m gratified to see that at least some of the Republicans get it. I saw a Republican spokesman – I don’t recall who – credited as saying, “This is a condemnation of the Democrat agenda, it’s not a mandate for us.”
“I’m not overjoyed with the election results. Boxer, Pelosi, Frank, and Reid and others are still employed.”
Pelosi is only Pelosi – rather than another “California nut” without power – when her side is the MAJORITY in the House. Boxer only is more than another “California nut” when her side has 60 or more members in the Senate. Bottom line: last night condemned both back to the freakshow.
I’m not too happy here in New York State except for seeing the results in the rest of the country. Here, the down-staters had control, like they typically do and kept Schumer and the turncoat Gillabrand. Once upon a time, Gillabrand was pro-gun and I liked her. Then she went and crawled under Schumer’s desk and let the up-staters down.
On the local level, my state senator, who is pro-gun, beat his opponent by a 2 – 1 margin and that’s about the only reason I had to celebrate as far as NYS results.
Congratulations to all of the other states that really made a difference and was able to remove Ms. Pelosi from her Speaker of the House position and eliminating the super-majority in the senate.
I live in the most diverse neighborhood of Chicago. It was interesting to me that the polling place for our neighborhood happened to be the big, tall Section 8 building’s lobby (our neighborhood is a mix of $500,000+ houses, lots of “luxury” Condos and an equal amount of Section 8 semi-slum apartments. Very astute of the Democrapic Machine Politicians to make the voting as convenient as possible for the derelicts of the neighborhood! No reason to take a chance on the bums not being willing to walk farther than 10 feet from the end of their elevator to the polling place in their lobby in order to cast their vote for their continued free ride…
While I’m happy for the overall movement to the Right in the country, I’m EXTREMELY disappointed that Bill Brady doesn’t appear to be the winner here in ILLinois in the Governor’s race. Our hopes of finally getting CCW here have taken another nosedive. Here in what is arguably the most dangerous city in the nation, good citizens must choose between being unarmed victims-to-be or committing a felony by carrying. It’s just not right.
Marc-WI, while we didn’t take the U.S. Senate, we did manage to turn Wisconsin red again. We got the governor’s office and the state assembly and senate. I only wish there was more information on who, when, where a CCW bill would be submitted. I think it’s on it’s way, however, I think it many be a year or so. To celebrate, I went out and purchased a brand spanking new Kimber Pro Crimson Carry II!!! Now, God willing, I’ll be able to wear it on my hip soon.
“Marc-WI, while we didn’t take the U.S. Senate, we did manage to turn Wisconsin red again. We got the governor’s office and the state assembly and senate.”
North Carolina gave Republicans BOTH the State House and State Senate – for first time since Reconstruction!
The days of banana-republic state government in Raleigh (last speaker of State House just did five years for corruption, last governor now being investigated for corruption, legislature and governor outspending revenues no matter how many new tax hikes) are OVER!
As long as Republican leaders really understand what the score is, I think the elections went pretty well.
Today Obama set a trap for GOP leaders by indicating he’s willing to work with them. Any compromise which comes from the White House and Dems is only an attempt to get some Republicans to compromise, so Obama can then blame the Republicans for his disastrous policy when he runs for reelection in 2012.
There is no way Obama is going to pivot to the middle or accept any attempts to dismantle his Obamacare legislation. The entire Obamacare legislation was less to do about health care and everything to do about government gaining more control over our economy and how to mandate how we live our lives. It has passed and it is now law of the land. He is not going to tolerate the Republican’s gutting his legislation. Any overt signs of the administration compromising with the GOP is a means they’ll use to attack the GOP next election.
So as long as the Republican’s understand his tactics and strategy and do not fall into his trap, we’ll be okay.
It’s going to be a complex and dangerous dance with the devil and ability to read complex covert strategies correctly to win this war.
The far left, progressives, socialists or whatever tag you want to affix to them have been planning this for nearly 40 years. It’s not going to be as easy as one thinks.
Yesterdays election was only the point in which we disembark and enter the battlefield. Republican’s will have to be well disciplined and master strategists and tacticians if we are to be successful in derailing the train of destruction we are all riding.
I am partially pleased and partially sad at the California results. There were a couple of ballot measures that passed that we needed, while a couple others we did not. I still can’t figure out what the people of California see in Boxer. I have campaigned against her in every election she has been in. We elected Democrats to all of the statewide seats which means they will be doing all sorts of stupid stuff. The state legislature is in exactly the same place it was before as far as the number of Reps and Dems. If I could afford to move I would escape to free America.
Jeff, buy a new gun to celebrate? Sounds like a plan.
If Bush drove the car into a ditch, Obama flew the plane into a mountain.
I am very pleased with the results. Given the circumstances, second place is a very good position to be in for the Republicans: some power to wield against the Dems and room for growth. The real test now for the Republicans is whether or not they can stand their ground. We shall see.
It was an election. We threw out a bunch of old politicians and put in a bunch of new politicians, none of which can really be trusted. We will have to watch them like a hawk, and be ready to toss them out when needed. If that sounds cynical well thats because it is.
Ironically, we made great progress on gun right legislation while the Dems were in power. Politics makes for strange bedfellows.
The nation as a whole has improved in recognizing constitutional values. California seems to be determined to hit bottom before progress toward gun rights can be more in-line with our 2nd amendment rights.
The trend is good, and I hope that starts moving things in the right direction. But, as I told some coworkers, the political machine has a broken reverse gear. When there are more cogs on the Democrat wheel the machine moves faster and when the Republican wheel has more cogs it goes a little slower, but it still grinds on to more control and bigger buracracy. What we need is at least some reverse back to less control and spending.
Here in Ohio we lost a Democrat Governor who was a true friend to gun-owners and gained a Republican who is “iffy” on gun rights. Our new Gov. HAS promised to sign “restaurant-carry” into law but his past record includes voting for the “assault weapons” ban so we will see… It also seems that in other parts of the country pro-gun Democrats lost becaue of the wave of anti-Dem feelings by folks who don’t have gun rights at the top of their list. All-in-all I think we made great progress in the fight to promote gun rights and some progress in other areas important to Conservatives.
about time we have people that remember they took an oath…. To protect and defend the constitution of the United States…….not for personal gain
…and talk about “informed voters” in southern Kalifornia the Democrats elected a State senator who is dead…. She died in October, shortly before the election so her name was still on the ballot. It must have been in the news for several weeks but….
I like the way the balance of power turned out for this election. Each house controlled by a different party. I believe the nation does the worst when a single party controls both houses and the presidency, does second worse when one party controls both houses with an opposing president (clinton, bush) and does the best when the numbers are balanced that neither party can run over the other. Sometimes the ensuing gridlock can be the best result for the country.
I’d like to recommend this article about elections
http://www.vdare.com/roberts/101103_elections.htm
Well, some jerseys went from Blue to Red, but lately, they’re all looking Purple. So, don’t hold your breath …
IMO, many subpoenas are being crafted as I type this… Lawyers are circling as we await the start of the Charlie Rangel “show”…err. ethics trial…
Obama will not go quietly into the night, he will seek revenge on his ‘enemies’, (the American public). He has multiple opportunities to achieve his agenda. This is far from over. He may not control the government with his lackies but he is still the Chief
Commander of the worlds most formidable armed forces.
Someone please tell me exactly what votes Reid cast in favor of the 2nd Amendment. Couple of you have said he did, so what were they?
I have mixed feelings about this most recent election.
I detest and despise career politicians. Being conservative I do not like the path that this nation has taken in recent times. On the one hand, the balance of power is exactly that, more balanced. On the other hand, it could be for naught.
Our elected represenatives stopped representing “us” a long time ago. Tuesday night we got a little bit of that representation back. I do wish there was a viable third party in this country, if for no other reason than to, “keep the bastards honest”.
As it is, I’m going to sit back on the sidelines, as I think the Republic is dead. This was just a spasm of agonal breathing enroute to a flat-line.
Biker
I am very happy for my state of Wisconsin. Scott Walker, our Governor to be, is already talking about repealing the ban on concealed carry here. I think the Harry Reid thing is bad for everything except maybe gun owners.
Living in a county with a 15.7% unemployment rate…
I think the Democrats can finally understand the economy like many in my rural community… as Pelosi and her friends are finally losing their “house” too.
I’m just not sure the political shift was far enough for national CCW reciprocity. Apparently, the value of your life and the lives of your family still varies based on your geographical location at any given point in time.
Hopefully, WI will see CCW soon and maybe even IL will push back against the anti-gun Chicago machine.
Dann in Ohio
Damn Kitzhaber in Oregon, and Brown Boxers in California. Looks like the west coast got the dirty end of the stick again. God help us out here. Lock and load and keep em close.
PS Buy a gun and ammo each 9/11 as a tradition and a memorial, and to keep prepared.
Biker, I think a good number of “third party” people just did get in, but on GOP tickets. That’s been what the TEA parties have strived to do, more or less, besides get people informed and raise the banner for curtailing taxation. Though the GOP got several career politicians back to D.C., there’s a fair number of folks who are going in January who are first-time office holders who previously had no aspirations to public office, let alone Federal office.
Let’s give them the benefit of the doubt and hold off on the “all politicians are alike” rhetoric for the time being. Apply criticism specifically to those who deserve it and avoid painting ALL of Congress this time as bad.
I’ve heard WAY too much from fellow conservatives who will not listen to what a certain person had done in office or what he/she has stood for, instead to just stonewall and say, “Doesn’t matter; they’re all alike.” That kind of anti-intellectual-driven bias, while I can understand the frustration from which it stands, is reprehensible and only adds to the claim that we’re closed minded and ineffectual that the left loves to toss out.
Yes we need to hold ALL members of this new Congress accountable for every single one of their proposed bills, motions, and votes. But that doesn’t mean painting all the freshmen Congressmen (and women) with the same brush.
Give them a chance before throwing your rotten tomatoes :).
~Sir Brass
Truth to be told, I’m really unhappy with the most recent electoral results at all levels. From the perspective that there has always been some level of correction when one party controls a large part of the house, senate, and executive branch, the swing was rather lackluster. Also, progressive elements in the democratic party made great strides, often supplanting more moderate blue dogs and the like. More telling perhaps is that rep Frank in MA, as well as Harry, Nancy, and Barbara are all still in power. Likewise, in my own state of MD, the current governer, in spite of raising the sales tax 20% and multiple other issues, was still confirmed for a second term.
Basically, if this was a real victory for 2nd amendment and conservative elements, I think we’d have seen a much more dramatic swing in power, and less of the conservative loss in the democratic party. Instead, the progressive leadership is all in place, their power has been concentrated in their own party, and I think it’s fair to say that this election hardly constitutes, a great victory ffrom my perspective, certainly not a mandate from the people as some are saying.
More over, I’m looking at the future, and what I keep hearing from the supposedly conservative leadership is that taxes will be lowered and that the health care initiative will be blocked or taken out. Basicly, that things will be rolled back to where they were 2 years ago. I’m not hearing any buz about dealing with the upcoming realistate issues when all the forclosed upon properties hit the market, nothing about social security, nothing about Fredy and Fanny, nothing about dealing with our current jobless issues. In other words, the issues which tower over our future aren’t even being discussed in a public forum.
Given all of this, 2012 looks to be a much more hotly contested race then most media outlets would have one believe right now. Certain.ly it doesn’t look as if the Democratic party is nearly as bad off as their recent losses would have you believe at first glance. Add to this the relative likelyhood that our supreme court will be up for another replacement within the next 6 years, and what you get is a much more dark prediction than fox and friends are showing.
I guess you have to celibrate something to keep the good feelings up, but when the leader of the RNC hasn’t made a notable public showing in six months and there is an even more critical race coming up in 2 years, I have real concerns…