Presage: 1. a. Something that gives warning of what is about to happen; an indication or foreshadowing of a future event; an omen, a sign, a portent.
The example, of course, is yesterday’s election results. A Republican landslide in Virginia (now there’s a Fleetwood Mac campaign song I can get behind!), a relatively conservative (for New Jersey) Republican beating a blue Democrat in a state that is almost s blue as California (and arguably bluer) and an independent garnering 46% of the vote without official party support and the other candidate (see quisling below) pimping the Democrat. Those things presage bad things for Democrats in 2010. In the near term these results might just save us from the health care nightmare.
Why take my word for it? When I want good political analysis I go to the master — Michael Barone — now at The Washington Examiner:
Finally, third, what will be the impact of these elections on forthcoming votes in Congress on the Democratic leaddership’s controversial and unpopular health legislation. The Virginia Board of Elections give us some hints when it aggregates the results by congressional district. In the 2008 elections three Democrats captured three previously Republican congressional districts in Virginia, giving Democrats six or the eleven-member delegation.
The results of the gubernatorial election show that at least some of these Democrats are imperiled.
In the 2nd congressional district, where Democrat Glenn Nye beat Republican incumbent Thelma Drake 52%-47%, McDonnell beat Deeds 62%-38%. In the 5th congressional district, where Democrat Tom Perriello beat Republican incumbent Virgil Goode 50.01%-49.85%, or a margin of 727 popular votes, the lowest in the country, McDonnell beat Deeds 61%-39%. In the 11th congressional district, where Democrat Gerry Connally won 55%-43% a district vacated by Republican incumbent Tom Davis, McDonnell beat Deeds 55%-45%. And the southwest, coal-producing “Fighting Ninth,” represented since 1982 by Democrat Rick Boucher, voted 67%-33% for McDonnell.
I cannot imagine that Congressmen Nye, Perriello, Connally and Boucher have not already accessed the websites which have shown the position of their constituents in a contest which, while like all governorship contests has its own specific features, was also in its contrast on issue positions reasonably congruent with those prevailing on national issues. And I can certainly respond with sympathy if any or all of these incumbents responded to these numbers with a two-word comment of which I will relay only the first word which is, “Oh.”
The 2009 election results are certainly not going to make it easy for Speaker Nancy Pelosi to round up the needed 218 votes for Democrats’ health care bills.
Second word… Schadenfreude: “Malicious enjoyment of the misfortunes of others.” Example — see above.
Does anyone know what’s going on with Health Care legislation? On Monday I heard the House would vote on and pass their bill on Friday and the Senate might employ the “nuclear” option and make Pelosi’s cr*p sandwich law. But now I’m hearing Reid saying there may be no vote this year…
The Mrs. and I were ready to go to D.C. tomorrow and lobby some Representatives, but we don’t want to spend the money if this isn’t, truly, a crucial week.
What’s going on?
I just saw an AP story that said, in part: “Publication of the changes – released late Tuesday – started a 72-hour legislative clock, meaning that a floor vote could take place as early as Saturday.”
Maybe Reid meant “no vote this year” meaning that they’ll have a double secret meeting and do the nuclear option.
If you and Mrs. Firefly go you have my sincere thanks. A trip to D.C. is out of the question for myself and the spouse. Fortunately our representative, Jim Jordan of Ohio’s 4th District, is a very strong conservative. But stop by Sherrod Brown’s office if you feel like it.
I vote in Ohio’s 2nd District right now and Jean Schmidt is a pretty solid conservative, but I second the Sherrod Brown suggestion. I would bring along some super glue for his desk chair as well, maybe a swirly for good measure.
Tee hee…a swirly!
If the so-called “Blue Dogs” really are in peril, then the smart thing for Dems like Pelosi and Waxman and Reid and the rest is to think of them as disposable, to use ‘em up and get what you can before they expire. Push the far Left agenda while they can. (But will Reid think of himself the same way, considering how popular he is back in Nevada these days?) Will any of the Blue Puppies have the guts to rebel, even going so far as threatening to join the GOP? I doubt it. They’ll be good little apparatchiks and do as they are told, even when it means political suicide.
That’s what I’d expect too, Raoul. Push hard and push now! Mark Steyn recently floated the idea that Reid may have already been promised some future position if he pushes now and it costs him his seat. Look at how many ex-Clinton folks have made millions as “consultants” and “lobbyists.”