What Tuesday's votes really mean: Americans are mad. Incumbents beware

For days now you're gonna hear both major parties and their media surrogates tout the best-case versions of Tuesday's election outcomes.

Democrats crowing over the special election win to replace John Murtha in PA-12, a heavily Democratic district that Republicans shouldn't have even been competitive in.

And the GOP quietly cackling over the final electoral demise of turncoat Republican Sen. Arlen Specter, despite (or because of?) the support of President Obama, who so famously described Pennsylvanians as bitter, gun-loving, religion-clinging small-towners.

The Democratic president is now 0-4 in major race endorsements since last November. Gee, I'd love to campaign with you, Mr. President, but I'd prefer this root canal appointment.

Yes, Specter's ouster did come at the hands of a real Democrat, Joe Sestak, who defied the White House's wishes.

But here's what Tuesday really means: Both parties took it in the ear. Nationally.

What the Washington Examiner so deftly called "the Twilight of the Establishment."

American voters are, for lack of a polite p-word, mad as hell and they're ...

... gonna dump on any incumbents they can find. (Can you say Harry Reid? Barbara Boxer?)

"It's a wake-up call for any incumbent -- Republican, Democrat or anybody around the country," Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell told our colleague Seema Mehta after watching a shell-shocked Specter concede..

After five terms in the Senate, the specter of Specter is gone. After two terms, Arkansas Democrat Sen. Blanche Lincoln was forced into a humiliating party runoff on June 8.

In Kentucky's Senate primary to replace the wisely retired Jim Bunning, Republicans had no incumbent to knock down. So they rejected the hand-picked choice of senior Sen. Mitch McConnell, Trey Grayson.

And to finish the establishment insult, they brought in Rand Paul, son of the libertarian you-know-who from Texas, and a fervent Tea Party denouncer of big government, big spending, big deficits.

There's no "Attaboy!" message in any of those outcomes. There's nothing but unhappiness with incumbents. 

More than three dozen House members of both parties have suddenly seen the need to spend more time with their families come next January, entering voluntary retirement and their cushy congressional pensions rather than undergo the expensive anti-incumbent wave -- and quite possibly involuntary retirement anyway on Nov. 2. Since Democrats enjoyed the most Washington success in 2006 and 2008, they now have the most to lose.

Watching the trend become more apparent in coming weeks, other incumbents may join the exodus, the kind of painful but productive flushing of old blood that functioning democracies are famous for. Goodbye, Gordon Brown.

In recent decades conventional American political wisdom has held that those seeking higher office must serve a prolonged political apprenticeship, working their way up the jobs ladder or serving several terms somewhere, like George H.W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon, Lyndon Johnson.

Then something strange happened. The last three successful presidential candidates -- Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and what's-his-name in the White House this morning -- all achieved victory on their very first try for the big house. Obama after only part of his very first Senate term, most of which he spent running out of town for the next office.

Now comes Tuesday, suggesting that given the economy, unemployment, fear, frustration and a coalescing, not-quite-coherent voter anger at anyone of either party standing nearby, holding an existing office, especially in Congress, may not be helpful to any ambitions for advancement this year. That change-to-believe-in is can be turned on its originators.

Hmmm. So just maybe then, it's a good thing that heading toward 2012, none of the current best-known GOP names for top of the ticket -- Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee, Newt Gingrich -- are holding an elected office. They have the resume but not the burden of daily decisions and responsibilities, allowing them time to run and raise money.

Strangely enough, the familiar one-time officeholders could now be the change agents.

Because this year, elective offices have become dangerous blast zones.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Photo: Getty Images

Comments

[Terry Saulsbury]

This is just a warm-up for 2012.

[Dr. Alan Phillips]

The anti incumbency we are witnessing is more than a mood, it is a reaction among the common voters of this nation to look for servant leaders to come from the ranks of the common yet talented men and women of this nation. The founders took this approach in selecting candidates for office, looking to farmers, shippers, theologians, scientists and retirees for true representation. The voters are reacting to poorly designed and unwanted programs, legislative incompetence, government expansion, an epidemic of crime, and lack of resolve in defending the nation against terrorism and international threat. At the very top of the voter's list remain the millions of Americans that have lost jobs and income with little hope in sight for employment. This anti former office holder emphasis will remain through the 2012 elections. Americans will renew their commitment to the Constitution and the way of life they have known.

I have been blessed to be married to a great lady for the last 49 years. I have combined those years with three wonderful children, their spouses and five grandchildren that have caused my love for country and family to increase. My wife is my helper and from me she will never hear words similar to "You are just not pretty enough to be the wife of a President," believe me her beauty is more than just skin deep.

I would remind all potential candidates that the Presidency is a serious office and extremely important to the voters. Our nation, its vision and future hinge on the office's occupant and his ability to handle national and international crises. Both the President and the first lady must be people of balance, faith and inner strength. They must love Americans as deeply as their own family. That love should issue in respect for and a full commitment to the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the promise of a brighter day for all citizens.

Newt Gingrich made it known recently to all that he plans to run for the office in 2012. That decision is certainly his prerogative and in time the votes of everyday Americans will tell us if his decision was correct. At the moment he appears to be a conservative proclaiming his opposition to bigger government, larger debt, increased taxes, expanded regulations and greater defense of the nation against terrorism, rogue nations and challenges at home. These are noble words but they must be examined by all of us. This is an era when the nation's voters are looking for new faces and a fresh vision accompanied by action. The notion of having another Washington insider in the Oval office does not lend itself well to any incumbent's past history and immediate future.

America is looking for new leadership that respects the values that have made this country the envy of the world. America must return to full employment. business growth, entrepreneurship, morality, ethics, safe neighborhoods and streets. I want to hear candidates speak out against crime in our cities and rural areas. Our citizens want a place that most southerners would refer to as "down home." Voters are not seeking new government shutdowns and contracts with America. Americans want a new vision and a servant leader who will listen to their desires and stand pro active in declaring, one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Our nation's sun is not setting, don't let anyone convince you of that forecast. 2012 will become the dawn of a new American Century and millions of voters will share in its promise. Vote your convictions in all future elections regardless of your party and continue your prayers for God to bless the United States of America.

Dr. Alan Phillips
Bloomington, IL

[The Globalizer]

None of the 4 listed possible GOP candidates will win the nomination. The political climate is in flux and these bolt-on wannabes will be brushed aside by new ideas.

[Cindy]

I disagree with the writer's take that American voters are against the incumbents.

It's the American voters vs. Washington DC if you look closely enough... and guess which party holds the power? Murtha's seat shouldn't have even been a competition in his district..yet it was very close!

America is highly pissed at the Democrats, and especially their president. The voters are speaking to that in Jersey, Virginia, Massachusetts, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and now Arkansas.

It's just a shame that it took the calamity of an Obama presidency to awaken the masses. But, they have awakened.

[Brad Somers]

Let me state up front that I am an independent. I'm glad to see a large majority of people feel as I do that all incumbents should be voted out. This is one of most powerful non-violent protests to our current government. I don't believe its necessarily a vote against Democrats although that probably accounts for some of it. The Republicans are not a better choice. The Right and Left are both corrupted by big money. How can your average person on the street compete with armies of corporate lobbyists with multi-million dollar budgets. I have written countless letters to my congressman and the white house and haven't even been given a response. The only other non violent protests people can exercise is to stop paying your taxes and unless you could convince a large majority to do the same you would just go to jail without accomplishing anything. People are tired of the inept government wasting our money and writing watered down bills full of loopholes that don't fully address the issues.

[Frank St.Clair]

The mood is anti-statist, or anti-liberal, not anti-incumbent. Mr. Bunning would have won handily had he not been sabotaged by the establishment, pro-amnesty Mitch McConnell. P-12 was won by someone known as a "Rush Democrat," someone quite a bit more conservative than the Republican establishment at this point. You are witnessing the death of what is now called liberalism. First the Soviet Union, next the American Left.

[Darryn]

This all boils down to one thing- Fear. The Obama administration and the progressives that support him are running rampant over the Constitution and accepted levels of government power. The people are waking up and looking for the people best suited to fight the menace whether they be conservative dems, GOP or Tea Party. Unfortunately the GOP has very little credibility after their joke of an administration. The American people are righting the ship by getting rid of the scam-artists inhabiting Washington. Most of those just happen to be in office, but not ALL incumbents have to worry. Just the ones that brought us the mess we have now.
www.thedealhero.com

[Real American]

Can America keep the WH arrogance from harming the country to much before he can be kicked to the curb