Republicans take the House: Fox News is strangely subdued

At 9 p.m. on Fox News, Charles Krauthammer declared that the Obama agenda was dead; the only question being how much of it would be repealed.

From “America’s Election Headquarters” Fox News had already projected a Republican takeover of the House of Representatives two hours earlier, drawing the ire of many (mostly Democratic) politicians and pundits who protested that polls had not closed in many states. 

It was that kind of night at the news network that many saw as being much more  participant than chronicler of this year’s election, beating the drum for conservative candidates, giving the "tea party" a national platform and spinning around the Obama administration a web of critical rhetoric so tough and sticky that virtually every Republican appearing on Fox News last night referred to the current healthcare legislation as “Obamacare.”

But even as the House went Republican and the Senate came close to doing the same, there was surprisingly little joy or even satisfaction expressed. There was a lot of talk of change and trains—Sarah Palin warned Democrats that one was leaving the station and going in a different direction; Karl Rove, answering the suggestion that young people didn’t vote this time around but would in 2012, said he hoped the president would board that train and ride it right off a cliff--but there was none of the elation that one might have expected.

In its place was an almost across-the-board agreement that the night’s work was not, and should not be construed as, support for the Republican Party. It was a repudiation (a word that was tossed around by many with great abandon) of the Obama administration. And although that is exactly what network stars Sean Hannity, Bill O’Reilly and Glenn Beck have been calling for since the moment the president took office, only Karl Rove, blithely crunching numbers and spinning out scenarios for 2012, seemed actually excited about it. Everyone else—Brit Hume, Juan Williams and Democratic strategist Joe Trippi (who personally thanked California)--seemed more concerned about how a Republican House would work with a Democratic Senate and president, how to address the nation’s anger and who would take the brunt of the blame should gridlock ensue.

The day started out with much more verve. At 11:30 a.m. Mike Huckabee agreed that President Obama would probably have tough competition in the 2012 Democratic primary but declined to agree that he himself would run. At 11:45,  there was report of Harry Reid-favoring voter fraud in Nevada At 12:30  p.m,  John McCain demurred when asked if he would support a Sarah Palin presidential ticket and suggested Congress save money by cutting funding for public broadcasting. At 1 p.m. Shepard Smith almost laughed when Democratic strategist Hari Sevugan said “the momentum is going our way,” later adding that “polls suggest you’re going down in flames.” At 1:30 came a report that a Reid campaigner had sent out a message urging Harrah employees to vote for Reid. At 2 p.m. Glenn Beck got misty-eyed reminding us that it was just two years ago he joined Fox News in the hopes of letting other anti-Obama Americans know that “you are not alone” and made fun of Wisconsin, which he considers “the home of progressivism.”

As results began coming in and Fox News predicted a Republican takeover of the House, Palin reappeared with Geraldine Ferraro, who stoically made a case for the healthcare package and dryly suggested that all these candidates who think they’re going to go to Washington and repeal it “have no idea how Congress works.”

But when it was clear that there would be more Republicans in the House than there had been in decades, the mood among became, oddly, less jovial. Some strain could be said to enter the room. There was a lot of talk of the economy, of blame, of the president’s reaction, but very little of action. “Reduce spending, reduce taxes and overturn Obamacare” was how former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani boiled down the mandate of the many new Republican representatives, but partisanship, pure and simple, would have done just as well.  What it will look like tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow, no one could hazard a guess.

 

Comments

[John B]

Why the focus on FOX? I watched MSNBC for a time. They didn't anyone even approaching a moderate on their election coverage panel. Rachel Maddow seemed to be the most moderate of the liberals on the panel! Chris Matthews was exceedingly nasty in his remarks to and about GOP politicians, asking if anyone had ever seen Palin read a piece of paper with words on it or saying Michelle Baughman was in a trance because she stayed on message and wouldn't say what he wanted to hear....as if she were the only pol to do so. Olberman was, well, Olberman.

And people criticize FOX for being biased. Perhaps but at least they are are decent and treat others with class.

[Tim Jackson]

Idiot blurb!

[snapples]

Now it's the Republican's turn. Step up to the plate....starting today. What is your plan to lower unemployment? What is your plan to lower the debt? What about entitlements? What is your plan for immigration? What is your plan for Iran? Iraq? Afghanistan? North Korea? How are you going to solve the Middle East crisis? What is your plan for the housing crisis? What is your plan to stem foreclosures? What is your plan to maintain infrastructure? What is your plan to stop gridlock? What is your plan if the government is shut down as many Republicans have threatened? How will you stop debt increase if tax cuts are given to the top l%? How will you keep us safe? What if we are attacked? What if our airport screening devices aren't adequate?

Obviously, I need to call John Boehner's office as soon as it opens today. We need to see his plan ASAP. Hee Hee Hee. With a win comes responsibility as well as accountability. You wanted it.....you got it, you own it now.

[jerzy gurl]

Over at MSNBC it was the "Night of the Long Faces."

[R. Dawson]

Wow! Quite the left wing tripe spewed by Showtraker. Similar to MSNBC, Showrtraker weaves wonderful tales to their fans (that never watch FOX News) of what happened on a real News Channel in an attempt to trivialize the impact FOX News (real analysis) has on their millions of viewers (people who think). "The less jovial mood" and "very little action," oh yes, I almost forgot, the traditional "misty-eyed Beck," little shot at the bow of conservative commentators, etc. Remember, if you're a Showtraker writer or MSNBC spin-Doctor you need to be saddened (but not to tears) at liberal loss and overjoyed (at least jovial) at liberal gains or (unless of course you're just "stoic" like Geraldine) or at best, misdirect reason during your whipping. When something good happens to the anointed one (Obama) or their hoped for single party corrupt system (vote Democrat, don't be stupid or angry or racist) and never, never, succumb to describing what might have really occurred.

[SeriousPerson]

I do not see any truth in the theme of this article. Is this another "we'll-print-what-we-want-people-to-start-thinking" article?

Crushing defeat for the Dems yesterday; victory for American individualists. Collectivists weep.

[2GQ4U]

I tell my liberal friends at work (Every one a football & Obama fanatic) that, what if you have a college quarterback like JaMarcus Russell, Tim Tebow, and Cam Newton all rolled into one, won the Heisman trophy, led his team to win the college national championship, was the first player drafted by the NFL, but fell flat on his face in his rookie year in the NFL, led the league in interceptions, fumbles, and incomplete passes, and was 0 - 16 after his first year, you guys would be screaming for this dude’s head on a platter. Why is it so hard for them to see why conservatives are up in arms over Obama? Yeah, he did such-and-such as a senator, but now it's time to fill his big boy shoes and lead this team to winning season. Let's consider for a moment that the Republicans are the offense and the Democrats are the defense, or vice-versa, and as a team, try to win 9 games next year, or maybe even get to the playoffs. I'm from New Orleans, so I know what's possible from a team.

[NumaNuma]

Ok flip this... (Hey I dont care about repigs or demits - I vote people not party)

So MSNBC and other "NEWS" channels are sad, crying wahhhh... It only shows me they are partisan... Fox doesnt laugh or cry (other than maybe beck...) Just shows me they are trying to stay a little more focused on reporting NEWS then ripping the other party a new one.. and fox news "creating the tea party"?? I think those tea partiers did that by themselves... I really dont care - all stations or news agencys have faults - at least in Fox the channels usually seem to try and toe the line - fox will generally report more of both sides than the other channels - but when those who have been sitting around only watching the channels that only agree with their beliefs accidentally turn to fox, they get a shocker... cause someone actually reported something that they didnt like... grow up america

(I dont care about repigs or demits - I vote people not party

[LibertarianPrincess]

".......but there was none of the elation that one might expected."

Do you think it is because these are PROFESSIONAL journalists? They report the news and keep their own opinions priavte. Perhaps you're just too climatized to the LIBERAL PUNDITS posing as unbiased journalists to know the difference?

[Jose R.]

I think it makes sense that no one at Fox was celebrating. This country is in very bad shape, as a consequence of a dramatic increase in spending during Bush's presidency, and Obama making it much worse. I come from a country that has been dramatically impoverished by the same type of populist and demagogue politicians. I'm happy that republicans have won, but I don't think much can be achieved until Obama leaves. If it happens as it happened in my country of origin, Obama will want to initiate immigration reform immediately, so that more immigrants can vote (the larger the masses of uneducated people voting, the more probability that a populist has to succeed. I say this in general, while acknowledging that immigrants are great contributors to this society, but illegal immigrants, most frequently, come with very low standards of education).

[Jh]

Well this election proves that we Americans do not want what's being forced on us by Washington. If politicians do not listen to us, they will not last long in office. The majority of Americans are not far left and are willing to meet in the middle. Losers, on both sides, can suck it up and work for the American people as a whole instead of just one group of people.

[Tubedriver]

Hey, the GOP inherited the Obama mess. Hee Hee Hee

[San Fernando Curt]

We now know, looking back to 2008, that in two years the world can turn upside down. Barack Obama's 'hope and change' night seems a billion years ago. For Democrats this election year, it isn't hard to recognize mechanisms that failed.

Democrats were tentative and piddling with their much-touted stimulus. And now it's a synonym for 'useless'. It should have been bigger, longer. Failure. Democrats should've been truly revolutionary with their healthcare package, deferring calls from industry lobbyists long enough to accomplish reformation that actually would benefit Americans. They delivered a lukewarm command that we now must buy private insurance. Failure. Wall Street and Big Bank, Inc. need restraints of tight regulations. We realize, too late, non-regulation of financiers doesn't work; being human, their self-control mechanism will default always to greed. Democrats delivered a lame cocktail of financial "reform" that bound our financial sector in ropes of boiled spaghetti, left the big still too big to fail, and did nothing to control crap-game derivatives. Failure.

Voters didn't restore the GOP to power. They voted against Democrats. They voted against half-measures. They voted against failure.

In economic downturn, the bellwether of improvement is Main Street, not Wall Street. The last thing Americans want to hear is that the recession is over, when nothing has improved for them.

If Republicans are smart, they'll consider this reality: Voters have as much loyalty to the GOP as the GOP has to voters. None. What have you done for me lately? Deliver or move back to Susquehanna.

If Republicans want to continue their victory party, that's a lesson they'd better learn. Fast.

[MD]

An article in the L.A. Times calling Fox News biased is like the pot calling the kettle black! The L.A. Times did everything it could to defeat Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina. Your self-righteous protestations of bias by other media outlets is laughable.