Liberals have been clucking non-stop since election night at the prospects of what Democrat victory means to their radical causes. In first recruiting, then funding, faith-friendly, conservative, and in a couple of instances even born-again candidates -- the Democrat party captured needed numbers to swipe leadership posts.
The strategy proved extremely effective. Nancy Pelosi will bring San Fran values to the Beltway debate, and Kennedy, Kerry, and Clinton will clamor to be first in line.
But how did she get there? In many instances - by taking advantage of terrible Republicans - and their own criminal wrong doing. But the main strategy was to convince a needed one-fourth of the electorate that the Democrat option on the ballot was not much different than the Republican option. Winning enough of the seats to take control of both houses, Pelosi is free to assign every committee chairmanship in the House, as is Reid in the Senate - to the most disgusting and vile liberal creatures imaginable.
The strategy was so sound it was as though they had taken the ideas right out of my book: MuscleHead Revolution: Overturning Liberalism with Commonsense Thinking or at the very least from the scrap notes of Karl Rove.
Look at how the candidates described themselves: "pro-marriage", "pro-life", "pro-gun", "born-again Christian", "pro-business", "anti-tax,” and in one case "former member of the Reagan administration."
And understand this clearly, it wasn't important that any of them demonstrate these beliefs - merely campaign on them. And in doing so,they campaigned only enough to make the point that in pulling the lever for them - the "common sense" voter wouldn't lose on certain, and vitally important "values" issues.
They invoked Jesus, God, the Bible, marriage, and faith in decibel and volume that would have earned Soros-sized scorn, and Kos-site mockery - were the party to actually let them demonstrate any of it.
But in doing so, they tricked the masses into believing that their positions on such matters would stand as strong as the true-believers that some of them displaced.
So what of it...
In January Speaker-Elect Pelosi will remind Heath Shuler that while he could throw a somewhat average NFL pass back in the day, that on her team - she's the coordinator of offense and he'll only be throwing on her direction.
One of my listeners described this situation perfectly this week calling the freshman class - the Crash Dummies.
They will have no clout, no position, and will be in immediate and desperate need of support and organization. They will not be in position to openly defy Pelosi, Murtha, Reid, and Durbin. Some have gone so far to already admit on the campaign trail that though they hold the position the voter felt was important - they will not "lecture others about morality, like Rick Santorum."
They will need the advice and networking of senior members to get their legislative efforts underway. They will want to try to deliver earmarks for their districts. And in needing to accomplish these things they will be beholding to the horse that "brung 'em" - Pelosi.
A few will attempt independence from the liberal elite that rule the chambers, but none will survive it. Liberals have been out of power for so long now that the only thing pressed upon their minds is to regain the third branch of government in 2008.
Don't misunderstand, Republicans are in even far worse shape - but at least they are waking up to that reality.
The class of the Crash Dummies has much to learn about the beltway and how things work. It doesn't help matters that Pelosi raised on average some $4500 each for them.
What she wants she will get, which come to think of it might leave Hillary in a bit of a pickle.
A sad thing about the functionally empty-suit Crash Dummies is that they will be pretty much a near immediate disappointment to those who sent them there. Make no mistake America did not lurch left on election night.
The saddest thing of all however is that the Crash Dummy class of 2006, while it was a brilliant strategy by the now near Rovian status Emmanuel, is that it removed some of the strongest true believers that social conservatives have ever supported. The likes of George Allan, and Rick Santorum, don't come along often - and their losses are blows to the body that hurt.
And it is those few true believers that our nation will miss most, whether we realize it now or not.
Though at least this way Rick Santorum can fill Justice Stevens spot on the Supreme Court given that the polite traditions of United States Senators do not permit them to filibuster one another...
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