Results, Lessons and Gloating

Like many others I watched the election results last night already knowing what I would see. Republican victories turning MSNBC hosts apoplectic as they were reduced to calling Chris Christie fat. But there were great moments, highlights and lessons to be learned from it all.

I don't think I could say it any better than Marco Rubio did in his acceptance speech:

Notice he refers to Charlie Crist's phone call but praises Kendrick Meek as a man who has given us all a lesson in dignity and honor. While Rubio won't say it, I will. It's a stark juxtaposition to Charlie Crist's political chameleon act, saying and being anything to get elected. Crist is everything that is wrong with politics today and we say goodbye and good riddance to him.

Were there more men and women like Rubio and Meek in politics today, the discourse would indeed be civil and we wouldn't need to talk about changing the tone. On that topic, perhaps nothing gave me greater pleasure than seeing Alan Grayson and his snide, dishonest and revoltingly foul campaign crushed by voters in Florida.

Nearly as exciting for me was the victory by Alan West, also in Florida. I watched his campaign and was inspired by his commitment to fixing the problems in Washington and not becoming part of the "ruling elite". Just a clip from the end of his victory speech:

The lessons that should have been learned last night are simple. Do what the people ask or lose your job. What do the people want? Lower taxes, less government and less spending. It is that simple. This is not a tea party thing or a Republican thing. Look at how hard Democrats had to fight in very liberal places to hold on to their posts. This sentiment runs deep and will only continue to grow.

Republicans need to be listening as closely as Democrats. They need to follow people like West and Rubio who won on exactly those points. John Boehner said all the right things but now he has to follow through. I believe he will but it will be our job to make sure.

Republicans have to eschew people like Trent Lott (whose Republican establishment attitude turns my stomach). He said earlier this year about the incoming Republican's, "As soon as they get here we need to co-opt them." As soon as they get there they need to muzzle Lott and his ilk.

Trent Lott, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid are like attack of the killer clones. It's all about party power. Whether Republican or Democrat it's that garbage that is killing our country. Hopefully you were part of yesterday's historic election. Now be a part of holding your representatives' feet to the fire like a boss checking up on a new employee.

Our message now: Do the job you were hired to do.....or we'll find someone who will.