Forgive me if I don't gloat over the sweep

With front page headlines like this talking about a GOP sweep, I'm tempted to disagree.

Not so much out of kneejerk skepticism, but also for reasons of political pragmatism. I cannot agree more with the warning "Don't get cocky," and I don't think it is possible to stress the importance of that wisdom enough.

A sweep is not a sweep until it has swept. My worry is that all the yammering about the Republican sweep might have two effects:

1. tending to promote cockiness among conservatives, libertarians, and Republicans, while simultaneously -

2. causing independent voters to have buyer's remorse in advance of their "purchase."

All in all, this is bad. The more a right wing victory is made to appear inevitable, and the more they are portrayed as (or perceived to be) gloating, the more likely that independent voters will have last-minute second thoughts.

This may explain the GOP sweep headlines. And even if the polls do confirm that there will be a sweep, since when does the liberal media enjoy reporting anything that might help Republicans?

So I think it's a bad idea to be cocky over the sweep that hasn't happened. And I also think it would be a bad idea to get cocky over it even if it does happen, but I don't want to get ahead of my present state of self-inflicted gloom.

There will be plenty to time to refuse to gloat later.

MORE: FWIW, I have been too busy campaigning to have buyer's remorse. Sure, I have my usual complaints about Republicans, and as a libertarian I have my usual complaints about conservatism. But this time around, I feel so strongly about getting the Democrats out that rather than holding my nose and voting per my usual style, I am holding my nose while campaigning!

UPDATE: Many thanks to Glenn Reynolds for the link and for quoting me.

I also notice Glenn has repeated his warning.

The only thing I might add to what I wrote is that in addition holding my nose while campaigning, I have also held my nose while contributing. If you don't have time or your lower back pain prevents you from doing the pain-in-the-ass campaign things like hanging leaflets on doors or making phone calls, then your money can make such nitty-gritty stuff happen, and it can also help pay for those expensive TV ads.

Comments welcome, agree or disagree, from gloaters or non-gloaters.

(Heck, I'd even enjoy hearing from the patriotic "non-partisans" who are encouraging their friends vote in a "non-partisan" manner....)

posted by Eric on 10.29.10 at 12:23 PM





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Comments

Can I gloat about my not gloating now? And do my actual gloating later? Provided that the results warrant it?

M. Simon   ·  October 29, 2010 01:46 PM

And like in 1996, they can sweep, and then promptly piss it all away by doing exactly what the Dems were doing- pork and earmarks and such like.

Daniel Fielding Smith   ·  October 29, 2010 02:05 PM

Buyer's remorse already? I made the mistake of listening to Rush yesterday while working. He had a long rant about why he hates liberals, with several references to perverts.
They just can't help themselves.

Frank   ·  October 29, 2010 02:54 PM

What Daniel said.

And yeah, buyers remorse here - and I'm not voting till Tuesday. But I never did much like either side. But, at least locally, the Tea Parties seem to have made a dent. BOTH sides in my districts are campaigning as fiscal conservatives. Not that most of us believe either side.


Kathy Kinsley   ·  October 29, 2010 05:25 PM

Dunno. The psychology seems to work both ways: in '08 conservatives were supposedly depressed (and thus more of them stayed home) by the media hammering away at how awesome Obama is and how the election is all but over. And on the other side lots of folks turned out just to be "historical".

If all the Obama hype didn't cause overconfidence, why should it with the GOP? You see articles like the one mentioned here but overall there isn't near as much hype as the 08 election (granted pres vs midterms but its also the liberal media). Plus, Obama had God-like expectations: "this is the moment when the seas will lower..." etc. Right now people are voting GOP just to say STOP!!!

Yes, we're all prepared to be sorely disappointed when the GOP rolls over, plays along to get along and the rest, instead of actually standing up to statism. But right now we just need to stop the collectivist machine.

Doug   ·  October 29, 2010 05:45 PM

Dunno. The psychology seems to work both ways: in '08 conservatives were supposedly depressed (and thus more of them stayed home) by the media hammering away at how awesome Obama is and how the election is all but over. And on the other side lots of folks turned out just to be "historical".

If all the Obama hype didn't cause overconfidence, why should it with the GOP? You see articles like the one mentioned here but overall there isn't near as much hype as the 08 election (granted pres vs midterms but its also the liberal media). Plus, Obama had God-like expectations: "this is the moment when the seas will lower..." etc. Right now people are voting GOP just to say STOP!!!

Yes, we're all prepared to be sorely disappointed when the GOP rolls over, plays along to get along and the rest, instead of actually standing up to statism. But right now we just need to stop the collectivist machine.

Doug   ·  October 29, 2010 05:46 PM

To gloat or not to gloat, that is the question.

AllenS   ·  October 30, 2010 08:40 AM

You may be spot on, but another thing to consider - the other side has been particularly nasty in their portrayals of the other side, and Obama's been right out in front with his "enemies" trash talk. I'd say that it's a wash at this point.

Larry L   ·  October 30, 2010 08:52 AM

Men who stare at gloats.

Brett   ·  October 30, 2010 08:54 AM

Boy, did that make no sense! Sorry, meant to type "...the one side has been particularly..." New to this posting thing.

Larry L   ·  October 30, 2010 08:55 AM

I dunno, Doug. It certainly caused caused overconfidence in the administration and in the blue halls of Congress. Maybe too much, and that's why there's so much backlash this year.

Anonymous   ·  October 30, 2010 09:52 AM

I dunno, Doug. It certainly caused caused overconfidence in the administration and in the blue halls of Congress. Maybe too much, and that's why there's so much backlash this year.

Jeff W   ·  October 30, 2010 09:53 AM

"But this time around, I feel so strongly about getting the Democrats out that rather than holding my nose and voting per my usual style, I am holding my nose while campaigning!"

Great quote. Indeed, it's crucial to vote the Dems out, no matter how mediocre the Republicans may be (though some are actually very good this year -- advocating the elimination of entire departments of government).

The patient (our economy) is bleeding to death, and the Dems are just prescribing more cupping and leeches. The Repubs may not have a cure yet, but at least they'll pull some of the leeches off.

Dana H.   ·  October 30, 2010 10:41 AM
M. Simon   ·  October 30, 2010 11:26 AM

If you want to read about "remorse, bitterness, and a desire for revenge" read Hillbuzz's rant.

http://hillbuzz.org/2010/10/27/an-open-letter-to-rush-limbaugh-and-his-listeners/

I took this with some salt in that I think he overstates the number of Democrats that are out to get the Obamites. However one point that he brings up is that the election is just going to be one battle in a long war. His estimate on the amount of time it will take to purge all the left wing thug federal appointees of Obama will extend into the 2030's is something to think about.

toad   ·  October 30, 2010 11:54 AM

I do not have children or grandchildren and am living the good life after working hard and living honestr so I have no need to gloat or hold my nose however for the rest of America there should be no gloating for at least the next thirty years, after you have surviveD the 70 million LSD-fueled babyboomers retiring and superpower China.

Good luck DUDES. Hope you get somewhere in your shiny electric cars.

Susan   ·  October 30, 2010 11:59 AM
He had a long rant about why he hates liberals, with several references to perverts. They just can't help themselves. Frank · October 29, 2010 02:54 PM

I'm a little skeptical of your characterization.

Any link or quote with some context?

Anonymous   ·  October 30, 2010 12:47 PM
He had a long rant about why he hates liberals, with several references to perverts. They just can't help themselves. Frank · October 29, 2010 02:54 PM

I'm a little skeptical of your characterization.

Any link or quote with some context?

mockmook   ·  October 30, 2010 12:48 PM

You don't think the Republicans will be any better? Well, what were you doing during primary season? In Utah, they got rid of Bennet, and replaced him with Mike Lee. In Florida, they got rid of Crist, and replaced him with Rubio.

Bitch all you want about big-spending Republicans during primary time. Go after them with hammer and tongs.

Now it's time to beat the Democrats (and Lizza Murcokeski). Once we do that, we can put heat on the Republicans not to go soft.

And in 2012, we can nail any ones that do go soft.

But, for the next 4 days, we need to go after the Democrats, no matter where they are, no matter what they promise they will do.

Because that 'D' by their names means they're promising to vote for the hard core left wing Democrat Party leadership. and that makes them not worthy to hold public office.

Greg Q   ·  October 30, 2010 02:27 PM

We're still facing the need to break the RINO's fingers as they hold their deathgrip on the steering wheel. Nothing to get overconfident about. Sure, we win this battle, but as soon as we do, all the RINOs are going to be out complaining about socons and conservatives, the same thing really, and playing their same old games.

They did not acknowledge their fingerprints all over the 06 and 08 losses, but they're going to claim credit for 10.

One has to just decide to be provocative and go down their throats. Its the only way. And this applies to the running dog lackeys of the RINOs as well.

Its always the same question: Do you want socialists or social conservatives? There are no other choices.

So arrogant? eh, no. We're still in The New Hope and we haven't yet gotten to Hoth, let alone to Luke becoming a Jedi Knight. The Empire is still strong.

Tennwriter   ·  October 30, 2010 03:36 PM

We are now three days away from the election (with early voting and vote by mail already going on). There is no sign of Democrats suddenly getting enthused or Republicans getting overconfident. In Colorado early voting has ended and 53,000 more Republicans cast their ballot than did Democrats.

This is going to be a wave election, the question is how big is the wave. I think the Republicans will do better in the Senate than some of the polls say, but it is still nip and tuck on taking control.

Gloating doesn't do any one any good, but I doubt it will depress the Republican and anti-Obama independent vote. People are angry at being ignored and talked down to. In colorado, I predict Buck wins and the Republcans take three democrat seats (Salazar, Markey and Perlmutter).

goodspkr   ·  October 30, 2010 04:25 PM

I simply think that it's a good idea for a party that radically amps up the wasteful spending to receive a great big smack in the mouth right after they do so.

It's certainly a better idea than not doing so.

Ryan Waxx   ·  October 30, 2010 05:59 PM

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