2010 Is Victory For The People, Not For Republicans

The final pre-election Gallup poll gave the GOP a 55 percent to 40 percent lead over Democrats among likely voters in a generic ballot test. The unprecedented 15 percentage point lead represents nearly double that enjoyed by the GOP before the 1994 Republican Revolution, shaping today's elections into a certain slaughterhouse for Democrats.

The GOP will be sorely mistaken however, if they view today's results as resounding support for the Republican agenda as much as it symbolizes a referendum against the socialist policies of President Obama. Over the next two years Republicans will be given a lease on power once again by Americans, but this time will be paramount to GOP survival for them to unify with the tea party movement and adopt the libertarianistic tendencies that return the GOP to a traditional view of small government.

In response to GOP reliance on tea party grassroots support in a recent CNN interview, Sarah Palin remarked "I think the machine within the GOP will realize the 'we the people' message is rising and is resonating throughout with independents, with moderates, and with hardcore conservatives because it's so full of common sense and time tested truths that could put the economy back on track, that heaven forbid the GOP machine strays from this message." 

But some in the GOP are already straying. Yesterday on Politico.com, Mike Allen and Jim Vande Hei wrote a piece trashing Sarah Palin and quoting numerous sources that the GOP is terrified of her and must stop her. The clear illustration of fear by the GOP is exemplified in the questionable list of article sources. They include "Top Republican advisors to Maine 2012 presidential contenders, other veteran Republican operatives, GOP elites, establishment figures, top advisors to candidates, top Republicans, top advisors, longtime Republican leaders and top advisors to rival campaigns." Yet not a single named source is used.

In an interview yesterday on CNN's American Morning, RNC chair Michael Steele lashed out at the unnamed Republican Palin critics with a dose of sanity regarding the GOP position. "These Republican leaders who don't put their names in print but make comments in shadows need to shut up. We're focused on winning elections tomorrow night. Get out here, get out to this building at the RNC and help us make phone calls, help us dial into districts so we can turn out our vote. That's what folks should be doing, not focusing on Sarah Palin. She's focused on winning elections and seats tomorrow night."

 Even as Republicans cruise to a crushing victory in today's midterms, the hints of division and struggle over the reins of GOP power leading into 2012 have already begun. These battles could inevitably end up a deathblow for the GOP if not avoided. GOP leadership must understand that the tea party represents something larger than partisan issues. It represents Americans fed up with politics as usual. Comprised of independents, moderates, and many conservatives, this group will make up the largest voter base in 2012.

It remains to be seen whether GOP leadership will responsibly shift the party and the government back to the people, but their survival depends on it. The biggest lesson for Republicans to learn from 2010 is that politics as usual is over, and to never forget that today's victory is not one for the party, but one for the people.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/politics-articles/2010-is-victory-for-the-people-not-for-republicans-3590848.html