The Swipe of a Credit Card

Last night the voters with the swipe as quick as a credit card sent their message out loud and clear to the incumbents Democrats across the country and state.  In my own neck of the woods (PA-10th), Tom Marino defeated Chris Carney by nearly 10 points.

Working as a poll watcher for Carney in 2006, I was worried about his reelection in 2008 more than 2010.  His district is registered 48 to 40 percent in favor of the GOP.  The 10th elected a man who criticised a husband for being home with his wife during cancer surgery and missing a vote.  Classy!!!!

The bottom line, broke out of work people saw the federal government spending money that the people don't have to spend on themselves.  The people who voted for President Obama in 2008, change didn't come instantaneously as the credit card swipe.  The often referred to the Constitution, but forgot it contained checks and balances.  Employment was also the key with unemployment hovering close over 9% but a really number of 17%,

Who were the winners and losers?

Winners both Federal and State

Marcellus Shale Coalition - the drill baby drill crowd is now in PA.

Big Media - 4.2 billion was spent in 2010.  My figure is going to 10 billion to unseat Obama in 2012.

William Jefferson Clinton and Michelle Obama - still pretty popular on November 3rd.

Sarah Palin - and the rise of the Tea Party and probably won the House for the GOP.

Defense spending - Hello Iran and Yemen!

Masterbation - "Ding, dong the witch is dead"  Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Losers

The enviroment - I'm sure DCNR, DEP and EPA will be underfunded or told to look the other way.

Public Employees - if you work for the state or federal government, most things are on the table.

The Democratic Party - see November 2nd, see redistricting.

The Republican Party - Karl Rove must do battle with Sarah Palin.  The ball is in their court.  They are great at election rhetoric but lousy at delivering results.  With the number one job to repeal Health Care Reform, what will be first?  Cut children with preexisting conditions, donut hole seniors, college age children.....take your pick.  If people don't see jobs, Palin and O'Donnell become mainstream. God only know what will crawl out from under the abyss.

The Tea Party - they probably lost the Senate for the GOP.  How did Harry Reid survive?

Big Money - 200 million just doesn't buy what is once did.  See Whitman, Fiorina, and McMahon or the New York Yankees.

Witchcraft - I couldn't resist

State Government - I will save that for another post.

The unemployed - to borrow something from the GOP - pray that another extension could get passed.

If you look at this election, many people that voted started to vote after 1980.  Most people born after 1984 or grew up after Vietnam did not have any idea of hard times until September 11th, 2001.  They got mostly everything they want in life and instant gratification was the norm.  They came out and voted for President Obama in 2008 and were not rewarded like they were most of their lives. For both sides of the aisle, you need to know who your constituents (customers). Trust me, there are many of these elections in the making, but remember checks and balances.

President Obama and the 111th Congress were faced with war, financial meltdown, unemployment, the oil spill and tackled health care reform in 21 months.  By the way, did we win the war in Iraq?