Democrats in Washington should hear the message of the voters loud and clear: Immediately cease your efforts to expand the size and scope of the federal government and the massive spending that goes with it, and instead focus on sound policies that will help bring back jobs and reduce the exponentially expanding federal deficit. Ignore the warning, and you will continue to be defeated at the ballot box - in Red, Blue or Purple states.
But it doesn't appear that Democratic leaders can help themselves even with their electoral prospects looking bleak and moderates within their own ranks appealing for sensibility. Obama/Reid/Pelosi have plunged full speed ahead -- attempting to push through unpopular healthcare legislation, raising the federal debt ceiling, and spending our tax dollars at a record pace without a hint of sensibility.
However, the political opportunities for Republicans are not guaranteed come November. Conservatives too must make some smart tactical moves to ensure that this momentum is not a short spurt of success but rather a long-term trajectory in their favor. This will require the diverse segments of our party to coalesce around party nominees, even when not all segments are in agreement on every issue.
We must recognize that while the Scott Browns of the world may not be Conservative enough for some of us -- he may be just conservative enough for the voters of Massachusetts. Today, Independents are becoming increasingly influential in the outcomes of political races and Republican candidates must be attractive to this constituency if they are to have the kind of successes that seems to be miraculously within reach.
This is not to say Republicans should forget who we are as a party. Rather, it means that if we are finally willing to return to the "Big Tent" approach, we may be in a position to change our nation's political philosophy and policies for years to come -- a pretty remarkable turnaround for a party that was left for dead just one year ago.