Winner--The Newsom Rule: The Newsom Rule holds that it's almost always a bad idea for politicians to gloat that their side has won "whether you like it or not." That's what S.F. Mayor Gavin Newsom did after a temporary gay marriage victory. Now California voters--influence by ads featuring Newsom's giddy, egomaniacal video boast -- have by a narrow margin stuck a gay marriage ban into the state constitution. ... [ Is the Newsom Rule like Godwin's Law--ed  Saying that anything is like Godwin's Law is itself a violation of Godwin's Law, I think]  4:19 P.M.

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Book Him on Three Counts of Failure to Transcend: Everyone wants to praise McCain's "gracious" concession speech . But it was shockingly  tin-eared--especially the good-for-you-black-people beginning:

This is an historic election, and I recognize the special significance it has for African-Americans and for the special pride that must be theirs tonight.

He went on and on--as if Obama's victory was all about race and not about a rejection of McCain or Republican governance. As if even if it had to do with race its rejection of bigotry was mainly of interest to African Americans as opposed to all Americans. As if the most important characteristic of the man most Americans chose over McCain was his skin color, etc. ... I know I'm overreacting, but McCain's tone seemed almost tribal. ... Maybe the problem was his distancing, clanging choice of pronoun--"theirs." Not "yours," let alone "ours." ..  3:26 P.M.

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Winner: Pork! Champion bacon-conduit Ted Stevens defeats challenger, despite a fresh multiple-count felony conviction , while death-to-earmark Skywalker McCain crashes and burns ... 1:35 P.M.

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Winner: Mike Murphy . The McCain loss unfolded pretty much exactly as he predicted back in August. ...

Loser: Mike Murphy . Nobody's resented more than a dissenter who turns out to have been right. ...  1:34 P.M.

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I See. I Saw. I Didn't Get 60:   Hmm. As Obama surged to victory, further down on the ballot things were drifting in the opposite direction. Politico :

But as NRCC staffers returned to work Wednesday morning, many of them were breathing sighs of relief. A 20- or 22-seat loss is hardly a victory, but it’s not the sea-changing — and majority-robbing — 30-seat loss the Republicans suffered two years ago. Just a week ago, the NRCC staffers were braced for worse. But they say they saw the Democrats’ wave crest just a little too early — and that it was starting to recede as voters went to the polls. [E.A.}

See-Saw Effect, anyone? ... P.S.: Specifically, this would be the Downballot Hedge version of the See Saw, in which swing voters compensated for the bold, hopeful risk they took on Obama (including for overcoming any race prejudice)  by gravitating back toward Republicans in their local Senate and House races.  ... P.P.S.: Sorry, Mike! ... For background, search this post for "vertical ticket splitter," and search here for the original mirror-image version of the See Saw proposed by Reader M.  ... 1:32 P.M.

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Grant Park: I was struck by two lists of virtues used by Obama in his acceptance speech --or rather by two omissions on those lists. [Emphasis added]

1.

To those who would tear this world down – we will defeat you.  To those who seek peace and security – we support you.

"Peace and security." Not "democracy" or "freedom." This is someone who doesn't want to seem in any way a neocon idealist.

2.

And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright – tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope.

No mention of "equality"--not even social equality. Nor "equality before the law." This is someone who doesn't want to seem in any way a leftish "redistributor." ...  1:51 A.M.

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Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Kinsley :

People who want divided government are afraid of politics.

I dunno. Maybe we're just afraid of card check. ... 6:09 P.M.

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kf Moment of Hope: The News . ...  6:04 P.M.

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