WV Governors Race - Will the 2012 Special Elections Be a Repeat of 2010? The Rebranding of American Politics

In 2010, the first salvo’s fired from the voters came with the election in Virginia of Republican Robert McDonnell followed by the shock of John Corzine’s, a New Jersey Democrat Icon, loss to Republican newcomer, Chris Christie. The final nail in the proverbial coffin came with the special election in Massachusetts, of Republican Scott Brown to the U.S. Senate, in a 5 point lead over Martha Coakley, which in terms of Massachusetts and the ability of the dead to vote, was a screaming referendum on the Democrat Party. The three together herald the historic gains of Republican’s in the House in 2010.

2012, so far, indicates a similar political landscape, perhaps even more telling than Christie’s win in New Jersey, the win in New York’s 9th District which saw Republican, Bob Turner, with no previous government experience, elected to the office held by Democrats since the 1920’s. Today, West Virginia will go to the polls in yet another special election. Two weeks ago, polls tightened in the W.V. race, with Republican, Bill Maloney, in a statistical tie with current Democrat Govenor, Earl Ray Tomblin, whose had desperate misleading campaign adspulled from the air. Maloney, a businessman, is also not a seasoned politico and one has to take into account that West Virginia, was the home of Robert Byrd the longest serving Democrat in the history of the Senate. With clear skis forcast for the “Mountain State”, a win by Maloney will be akin to an earthquake. Not for nothing, but on January 19, 2009, the weather was fair in the Bay State.

A win today for Maloney, just like the previous two special congressional elections (Mark Amodei, Republican, in Nevada and the New York 9th) will be a referendum, not only on Obama, as many in the press indicate,, but on the Democrat Brand, and in total, the “Washington as usual” brand. This leaves room for speculation on the 2012 race in total, and the dismay of those elite in Washington and both coasts, in both major political parties, who are fearful of a win by candidates who resonate with “the people” such as Herman Cain, or the yet to announce, Sarah Palin.
The fact that “Washington” and the “elites” who run both major political parties, as well as the conventional press, no longer hold sway with the electorate, will make this 2012 election cycle one of the most interesting in memory. Moreover, this portends the historical election of the individual, rather than the “political party”. That would herald a return to the vision of those who authored the Constitution and held political parties in abhorrence, which may be why those Tea Party Candidates, whether running as a Republican or a Democrat (that is not a typo), are replacing those with long ties to political organizations or are career politicians.

The Blame Game Begins – NY’s 9th and NV Flip Congressional Seats To GOP in Special Elections - Dem Infighting Over The People’s Houses - Analysis

Progressive Name Calling: Image from HillBuzz.org with article article: "Next Time someone says Governor Palin is Polarizing - tell him no she's the Polar Opposite of Obama" This, in part, describes the "blinders" worn by the current administration, unions and progressives, as well as career politicians.


From Politico, the headline: “Republican wins Democratic New York House Seat” explores yesterday’s historic loss of a Congressional Seat in New York’s 9th District, which had been held by Democrats since the 1920’s, and a seat in the Nevada 2nd, which Democrats had challenged as a referendum on the President, while quoting a variety of Democrats who just don’t appear to “get it”. The press continues to see the U.S. political landscape in terms of two major political parties, however, the New York special election, in an overwhelmingly Democrat voter registration district, by political novice, Bob Turner, defies that theory, it was in New York, as it was in Nevada, the people’s seat and the people’s voice that led to these victories – a referendum on politics and usual and the inherent belief that political party’s “own” seats.

The article goes on to describe the mayhem caused as Democrat party leaders saw the New York District turn on a dime – blaming Obama, the unions non-involvement, and everything but – the policy of progressive think by all involved, from the top down.

Perhaps most telling of a case of the “blinders” is Politico report on Organized Labor:

It was a nightmare scenario for Democrats that threatens to repeat itself on the national level, as major unions turn away from their traditional level of engagement. AFL-CIO leaders have talked about focusing their spending on state-level races. The giant SEIU has discussed replacing what had been an all-out campaign for Obama in 2008 with a campaign more focused on the issue of jobs.
And labor union leaders in Washington watched with frustration as a heavily Democratic, pro-union, blue-collar district slipped away.
“Obama needs to reconnect with labor, get in the trenches with us again,” said a veteran labor official. “There is, among my members, a sense of disconnect with him. He needs to signal to us that he is a labor champion, not just supported by labor.”

Apparently, the unions missed what the people did not: From Real Clear Politics “Swing Voters Recoil From Unions, and Obama” referring to a joint rally held in Michigan featuring Jimmy Hoffa the younger, and Obama. Hoffa used language such as (paraphrased) “take the Tea Party Out”, “Mr. President, we’re your army” - while Obama did nothing to refute, rather appeared to support Hoffa’s statements. In addition, in Washington State, members of the Longshoremen’s union, destroyed equipment and took hostages in an attempt to make a point (Daily Caller). On the east coast, striking Verizon workers cut cable lines some of which were critical to emergency services, in a recent strike – Verizon refused to settle, everyone went back to work. (hotjoints.com).

In “Job Stimulus II”, the Presidents’ attempt at following up on the failed “Job Stimulus I”, saw David Axelrod, Obama’s mentor, campaign manager and Senior Advisor noting that Republican’s in the house could “take it or leave it” referring to the Presidents "legislation" – allowing for zero compromise in a time when the nation’s poor are slipping further into poverty.

It is the us or them, the union/Progressive (i.e. socialist) ram it down the people’s throats, pass laws without reading them (Health Care Legislation, i.e. Obamacare), the blame the corporations and the Republicans’ attitude (those Tea Party Republicans) and philosophy, that has the people looking for less traditional leaders going forward. That message was soundly delivered in New York’s 9th District, by the people, divesting themselves of party politics as usual and sending a strong message to Obama, yes, but the rest of the political class as well – “We’ve had enough”.

For edification: the headline from the Washington Post speaks volumes: ”Republican Wins Democrat New York House Seat”, the seat belonging neither to a Democrat or a Republican in truth, rather to the constituents of the district, who chose to send someone other than a career politician tied to a party that is vested in Labor Unions, Progressive think and a total disregard for what the people might need – less government, less spending, a sane business environment which would create more jobs.

Therefore, this scenario will replay itself out throughout the upcoming political season of 2012, as the incumbent faces a loss, more so if backs labor literally, or continues policies that failed in the 1970’s under Carter, (sadly that ship has sailed, but adding to the already fragile economy with a jobs bill, no way to pay for it but taxes, investing in extended unemployment benefits (4th year), and infrastructure (union) jobs – is continual political suicide. Debbie Wasserman, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Barney “Dodd-Frank regulate the Banks to Death” Frank, and the rest of the “Progressive Democrats”, are in danger of becoming extinct politically. It is not just Obama’s failures, but a combination of failures supported by organized labor and progressive think that has the United States on the verge of electing a citizens legislature and a citizens President for the first time in history.

Although Politico notes that the Democrats, bravely continue with a glass half full front in discussing Obama’s possible opposition for 2012:

Asked who he’d like to see the Republicans nominate, Montana Democratic Governor Brian Schweitzer suggested: “Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry - those would all be good ones to run against.”

One might suggest that those are exactly the types of candidates that the people who are sending Bob Turner to Congress in New York, might send to the White House in 2012.

Therefore, bickering aside, politicians from both sides of the aisle and their supporters should understand that the populace is now vested in how they vote, and they know how to research roll calls, the populace is in favor of: corporate tax cuts to repatriate businesses, creating jobs, shutting down the border, repealing burdensome regulation such as Dodd Frank, ObamaCare and anything else that smacks of yet another burden the small or large business which will be passed onto the people. It is not, as Hoffa suggested a “war” between the Unions and their President, Obama”, it is a renunciation of the type of rhetoric, the reality that those who consistently drink at the till of the government trough at the taxpayer expense, are about to be handed the proverbial pink slip. 2012 will be a referendum on a political philosophy, one that is followed by the President, and the many Senators and Congressional Representatives who will also be up for reelection in 2012.

A side note: If in the NY 9th, the Democrats could not manufacture enough votes to overcome a challenge, what will happen in the rest of the City, and for that matter in Massachusetts, where all incumbent Democrats, (with one exception) had to fight hard to hold onto seats in 2010, and where in 2012, those same districts (less one), will be challenged again? No matter how it will be spun, and no matter that Obama has become the new “sacrificial lamb” of those as guilty of a political ideology as the President, it is what it is, the people will vote, and once again, the potential for historical turns in both houses of Congress, but especially the White House, are more probable than not.
As Hades is freezing over, one might suggest that should Palin announce her intent to run (when), a women will be standing guard at the gates of that “shining city on the hill” that is America, backed by an assembly of the people, working on behalf of the people’s interest. First; "Yes Virginia, there are moderate Democrats, who vote with follow a new pro-Constitution philosophy" - Tea and Common Sense anyone?