As The Votes Continue To Be Counted...

Tonight's Biggest Loser: Steve Israel And His Pack Of Neutered Blue Dogs

We'll get more into this is the coming days but every single Blue Dog Israel recruited-- and wasted so much money on (money that could have gone to help progressives win)-- has either lost or is losing tonight, as did Blue Dog incumbents Ben Chandler (KY) and Larry Kissell (NC). It's like a redux of the Great Blue Dog Apocalypse of 2010. When will the corrupt Inside-the-Beltway Democratic Establishment learn that actual Democratic voters don't want Blue Dogs and that Republicans have their own reactionaries so they don't need them? These were the Blue Dogs Israel was trying to get over:

• Dave Crooks (IN)- LOST!
• Pete Gallego (TX)- undecided but losing narrowly
• Pam Gulleson (ND)- LOST!
• Nick Lampson (TX)- LOST!
• Gary McDowell (MI)- undecided but losing narrowly
• Brendan Mullen (IN)- LOST!
• Sal Pace (CO)- LOST!
• Hayden Rogers (NC)- LOST!
• Rob Wallace (OK)- LOST!
• Charlie Wilson (OH)- LOST! 

When will Israel tender his resignation? With Obama, Senate Democrats and House progressives all doing so well, Steve Israel (and his allies Joe Crowley and Steny Hoyer) were the skunks at tonight's party.

Is Chris Christie Looking For A Cabinet Position?

First Christie actually behaved like a rational governor instead of a Republican "fuck everyone" political hack of the John Boehner/Miss McConnell Samson School of Obstructionism. Then, after being called a "fat slob" by Rush Limbaugh (no comment... too easy) and threatened by him and other right-wing extremists with excommunication, Christie refused to make it all better by going to a Romney rally in Pennsylvania Sunday evening a few miles from his home. Now he's cursing out and disparaging "Know Nothing, disgruntled" Romney staffers. Listen:



Sleazy Little Loser Josh Mandel Wants To Make Sure Everyone Knows He's Not A Practicing Homosexual

As expected Mandel, Ohio's right-wing treasurer, was soundly defeated in his bid for a U.S. Senate seat tonight. Sherrod Brown clobbered him 51-45%. And increasingly desperate Mandel had turned to making gratuitous anti-LGBT statements, hoping to fire up evangelical bigots in backward areas of the state. He also managed to fire up his own family, who were so embarrassed by his behavior that they purchased a full-page ad in the Cleveland Jewish News to denounce him.

Open Letter to Josh Mandel, Republican Candidate for U.S. Senator from Ohio

Dear Josh,

Four years ago you came into our family. We still remember the excitement surrounding your wedding, and how happy our family members were as they described it afterwards. So we were deeply saddened when you announced during your October 18th debate with Senator Sherrod Brown that you believe only some people should share this right to marry the person they love, while others should not.

Your cousins, Ellen Ratner and Cholene Espinoza, are among the many wonderful couples whose rights you do not recognize. They were married almost eight years ago in Massachusetts, at a time when it was the only state in the nation to allow same-sex marriage. Their wedding, like yours, was a beautiful and happy occasion for all of us in our family. It hurts us that you would embrace discrimination against them and countless other loving couples in Ohio and around the country.

We are equally distressed by your belief that gay men and women should not be allowed to serve openly in the military. Like you, Cholene spent many years in the armed forces. A graduate of the Air Force Academy and an accomplished pilot, she became the second woman in history to fly the U-2 reconnaissance plane. And yet, you have argued that she, like many gay and lesbian soldiers, should be forced to live a life of secrecy and lies.

Josh, as you know, our roots are deep in the Cleveland area and we have friends and family we love throughout Ohio. This family is sprawling and diverse, but it has always believed strongly in the values of equality and inclusiveness. Your discriminatory stance violates these core values of our family. Nevertheless we hope that over time, as you advance in years and wisdom, you will come to embrace the values of inclusiveness and equality as well.

Your cousins,

Michael Ratner, Bruce Ratner, Karen Ranucci, Pamela Lipkin, Rebecca Ratner, Elizabeth Ratner, Patrick Markee, Jacob Ratner, Ana Ratner

Oh... And The Senate

As we head off to bed, Mandel wasn't the only right-wing freak who saw his senatorial aspirations dashed on the rocks of an electorate smart enough to get even for all the hyper-partisan obstructionism. In Massachusetts Scott Brown was handily defeated by Elizabeth Warren. Sure bets that didn't come through for the GOP were also the Senate seats in Missouri and Indiana, where misogynistic blabbermouths Todd Akin and Richard Mourdock both lost badly (Akin by an astounding 10 points). Democrats won in Virginia. Florida, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Connecticut (against a plutocrat who spent $90 million dollars of her own money in her 2 failed Senate races this cycle and last), Rhode Island, Vermont, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Minnesota, and New Mexico and are leading in Montana and North Dakota. Replacing Republican Olympia Snowe in Maine will be Independent Angus King who is likely to caucus with the Democrats. Oh, and did I mention that Wisconsin is electing it's first woman senator-- and the first openly gay person to ever win a seat in the U.S. Senate? That would be Tammy Baldwin, who is defeating ex-Governor/lobbyist Tommy Thompson. The Democrats will have no problem holding California, Washington and Hawaii. Miss McConnell (and Karl Rove) were certain they would either take back the Senate or come close enough to be sure it would fall their way in two years. Now it will be slightly more Democratic than it was in the current session.

And did I mention that President Obama won reelection with wins in swing states Colorado, Ohio, Iowa, New Hampshire, Wisconsin and Nevada, a lead in Florida and a too-close-to-call race in Virginia?