Archive for November 4th, 2009

JEFF MORROW: With Bob McDonnell’s election, thus ends the fiction of blue Virginia. As a liberal citizen of liberal Arlington County, it pains me to say so, but the Commonwealth did on Tuesday what it will always do when there aren’t extraordinary circumstances or extraordinary candidates: vote for the Republican.

HOWARD MEGDAL: Jeff makes a number of important points: the idea that Virginia defaults blue at this point is certainly a stretch. However, I think the truth lies somewhere in between 2008 and 2009 for Virginia, with the demographic movement toward the results of 2008.

CHRIS PUMMER: If conservatives want to preen over themselves at the expense of building a coalition that’s capable of retaking the levers of power they held for most of this decade, that’s OK. It just means they’re as bad at politics as they were at governing when they had the chance.

HOWARD MEGDAL: I take no issue with Chris’s point- but let’s take a look at the implications such a move had immediately. This isn’t a case of short-term gain leading to long-term loss. This is a losing stretegy right now, in what should be surefire Republican districts.

STEPHON JOHNSON: The mayoral race in New York City spoke clearly about the class/economic divide the city has trouble overcoming.

JESSICA BADER: In the months leading up to Election Day, my attitude towards Mike Bloomberg’s campaign for a third term was one of ambivalence.

CHRIS PUMMER: How Chris Christie navigates this challenge will possibly shape the future of the Republican party in New Jersey for the next decade, if not the next generation. By beating back the Democratic machine in his state, Christie has earned Republicans a chance demonstrate they know how to govern.

HOWARD MEGDAL: Ultimately, too many Democrats just didn’t like Jon Corzine enough.