I think last night's results were pretty meaningless as far as the big picture goes. Virginia usually changes parties every eight years or so. Corzine was terribly unpopular due to the economy and the state's budget woes. NY-23 might have been the most significant just because of what it portends if the tea-baggers go ape-shit next year.

The bottom line is that if unemployment exceeds 10 percent next fall, it's going to be a tough election for Democrats. But if the unemployment rate starts to drop, if Democrats pass health care reform (with some of the benefits kicking in immediately) and if they can get a second stimilus through, then it will probably be a decent election.

The governors' races tell an old story. If the Democrats either suck (Corzine) or act like they're Republicans (Deeds, Owens) they're likely to lose if another condition is met. That condition is that the Republican in the race has to actually be a moderate (Scozzafava) or lie his ass off about his real agenda (Christie, McDonnell). If the Republican is honest about what a gigantic tool he is (Hoffman) he'll lose in most places.

We've seen it over and over and over again. Republicans lie about who they are to get elected (or Senate confirmed). W lied. Alito lied. They all lie, and then once they get elected they govern like the fanatics that they really are, knowing that the voters aren't paying attention and the media will never call them on it.

George Allen, for example, lost when the mask slipped. So did McCain. It slipped for Christie too, but Corzine sucks too much to take full advantage. And it started to slip for McDonnell, but it hardly mattered. It was a small slip - an old document - and Deeds was running too far right himself to make much of it. Hoffman never even had a mask, and when Scozzafava dropped out and stopped splitting the reality-based vote, he lost. They need the mask. Our job, it would seem, is to make sure they can't hide behind it in the future.

McDonnell convinced the Virginia electorate that he was a moderate. Plus, he lived in Northern Virginia and my guess that convinced many people in that part of the state that he understood their concerns. I don't know much about Chritstie, but it sounds as if Corzine had failed as a governor. Christie and Mcdonnell will have to govern from the middle. Otherwise both will be in trouble. The results of NY23 surprise me because upstate New York is extremely conservative. Owen's win shows that the Teabag party may not have a future.

Deeds did not run on the Democratic platform -- he ran away from it -- suggesting VA opt out. So running as a Blue Dog even in Virginia is a loser. The Dogs need to get on board and see to it that the Democratic programs are in place and working by the time the next election roles around.

Dear Mr. Saul Anusiz -- You are gonfused: the Democrats do not need to paint all conservatives as fire-breathing cavemen -- that is being done for them by Palin, Beck and Limbaugh.

I personally know Saul.

I think he is a man to watch carefully, as he is a very dangerous blend of marketing, smooth talk, and a blind ambition.

It's not at all what is best for constituents, but all about power with a "tax cut" mantra.

Very, very dangerous… with a “god, family, and country” wrapper.

What a Black Tuesday!

Owens won in NY23 dealing a blow and taking some of the juice out of the Teabags but WORSE, my faith in Eric Kleefeld was shattered

Charles Franklin:

New Jersey then and now. Whatever else you say about the race, Corzine lost support across all regions of the state and by relatively constant amounts. This "uniform swing" shows that he didn't just lose in Rep areas, or Dem areas, or urban centers. The decline in Corzine support was very widespread and quite even. An across the board loss.

So much for the Kleefeld Effect and my faith in The Terror of Tenafly