Republican Wins in NJ & VA Bad News For Obama & Democrats

If last night’s outcome of the two Governor’s races in New Jersey & Virginia in which Republicans scored huge wins signals anything, it is that Americans are not satisfied with the direction or the tax & spend agenda that this administration is trying to force upon them.

Bob McDonnellBob McDonnell & Chris ChristieChris Christie won in two states that only last year President Obama won handily. In New Jersey, Chris Christie won in one of the bluest states in the nation despite Barack ObamaBarack Obama visiting and campaigning for incumbent Jon CorzineJon Corzine on at least 3 separate occasions. Corzine who spent over $30 million dollars of his own pesonal fortune and resorted to mudslinging throughout much of his campaign, can now go back to Goldman Sachs where he may need a job now that he will be out of work.

This is a clear indication that people are starting to wake up and taking notice of the far left agenda & overreaching of this administration. A clear rebuttal of the star power of Barack Obama, his presence was never a factor nor did it give Corzine the much needed spark to put him over the top.

Absentee from this year’s turnout were the enthusiastic young and impressionable first time voter and college aged crowd that played such a big role in last year’s election. Also missing was the support of latinos and African Americans who overwhelmingly voted for Democrats last year. Left to vote were the older middle aged crowd with a lot of kitchen table issues like skyrocketing property taxes, high unemployment, and fears of government taking over their healthcare. The people that turned out to vote yesterday represented the Tea Partiers and Town Hall protestors that this very WH mocked and belittled over the summer when they dared to speak up about their government.

These wins in NJ & VA should send a clear & strong message to all politicians across the country that they better start paying closer attention to their concerns and do the work of the people. The work that they were elected to do. We are in a critical juncture in our history in which we cannot sit back or sit on the sidelines and let the special interest or the well connected shape the face of this country. It is each and every one of us that makes the difference.

Success leaves clues.

In Bob McDonnell we saw how good Conservative values and ideas can inspire and get people to believe again. Bob McDonnell focused on the issues that are most important to Americans today. Jobs,lowering taxes, improvements in transportation, business incentives, family values and small government.

McDonnell ran a clean focused race and his Conservative message hit home with many people. His message - the antidote to many of the problems we are facing today and a rejection of the proposed agenda of this administration, was exactly what the people in Virginia were expecting from the Obama WH but never received. Creigh Deeds who was hurt by endorsing and embracing the Stimulus package and supporting many of the big government ideas of this WH, was broad sided by the anger of Virginians who have spoken loudly and forcefully defeating and sending Deeds packing for an early Thanksgiving vacation.

Aside from the obvious frustration and anger that many Americans are feeling, this election brings to light a couple of very important revelations.

In my opinion, the results of these elections also show that last year’s election of Barack Obama was an anamoly. Last year’s election cycle was akin to the perfect storm in which a convergence of many different circumstances led to one big shake-up.

Last year more than anything else was a referendum on George BushGeorge Bush more than it was about the demise of the Republican Party or Conservatism. I have said all along, that if there had been a stronger Conservative candidate running against Barack Obama, the results would have been different.

Last year’s race was not about credentials and the best prepared candidate to run the country. Last year was about the youthful frenzy and idolization of a smooth talking, charming underdog that played on people’s sentiments and benefitted from the frustrations over “Bush’s War”. While we were all energized and star struck by a relative unknown, we forgot about values, experience, country and traded it all in for blind faith.

But as we now see, many of those star struck and charmed voters of last year are beginning to wake-up and find out that this is no longer a fairy tale. Reality has slapped many of us in the face.

BUSH BASHER’s BEWARE

These elections also signal that any candidate up for election next year can no longer use Bush and his presidency for the state of the nation as a platform to run on. That is not going to work anymore. George Bush has been flogged enough and it comes a time when leaders have to lead instead of whining and crying foul. The two candidates who resorted to Bush bashing early on in their campaigns are now cleaning out their closets in VA & NJ. There is a threshold for this type of rhetoric and this is where Americans have decided that the line has been drawn.

We are almost 11 months into this administration and George Bush is but a memory. It is time for this administration to pull up their shirt sleeves and get to work. Work on the things that people need the most. Jobs. Give people jobs and they will figure out a way to make it on their own. People are resilient and when up against it will do what a lot of us do – we grit our teeth take a deep breath and work harder. This idea that people should be led blindly like sheep against their will is not going to work. Americans are a proud people.

Americans just want to work, earn their own money, give their kids a good education and live a decent comfortable life. They don’t want to be bothered by the overreaching arm of the government. They want to enjoy the beauty of this country they do not want to be owned by it.

Last night was an inspiring moment and many Americans should feel uplifted in knowing that their voices can be heard and that yes, they can make a difference. Last night was a shot heard around the country. It is what makes this country great. It is what makes everyone of us believe that despite the darkest of times, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.