Dakota Beacon

            Americans have seen the future from the mountain top of Big Government and they don’t like what they see.

            The US House elections encompassed the entire United States. Every representative was up for re-election. This is as close to a referendum on the Obama leftward lurch, and those who supported it, as you can get. In every significant race where Obama campaigned for Democrat candidates, the Democrats lost.

            Under the Obama administration, the United States experienced an experiment in hyperliberalism. In response, Americans did what they had to do and that is what elections are for. Obama knew that and said so. In effect, Obama threw his fellow Democrats under the bus to advance his political agenda.

            The 2010 elections show we live in two Americas. A few liberal enclaves survived on the east and west coasts. Everything else went Republican, if not conservative.

            It may also suggest that this election represents a revolt against the one party system, the government party, with a Democrat wing that likes tax and spend policies and a Republican wing that favors big business and foreign entanglements. Both share in their love of earmarks.

            Major, major gains in the US House plus the state governorships and state legislatures by the Republicans represent an historical precedent. The last time such gains were made was in 1932 when Republicans gained 55 seats in the House.

            Republicans picked up 63 House seats taking a commanding lead. Although not claiming the Senate, Republicans still picked up 6 Senate seats. A whopping 19 state legislative bodies switched from Democrat to Republican control.

            Derisively, Democrats refer to Republicans as the party of NO. More accurately, the Republicans became the party of STOP.

            Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich led the Republican revolution in 1992. The revolution of 2010 was led by a ground swell of people, Tea Party people, very unhappy with the growth of government. Leaders come and go, but people remain.

            Congressman Pomeroy, popular for many years, went down to defeat along with many other long serving congressmen, including some committee chairmen. There is a message here: Senator Conrad, listen to the people and stop playing phony populist politics.

            In effect, Republicans have defacto control of the Senate considering the Democrat senators up for re-election in 2012. Do these Democrats want to hitch their wagon to Obama’s fading star after seeing the results of the 2010 election?

            In the US House attempts will be made to dismantle Obama’s agenda. Of the Democrat senators up for re-election in 2012, who will take the lead in defending Obama’s agenda in view of the 2010 election? Does Senator Conrad wish to carry Obama’s water, then face an unforgiving electorate? He might just vote with the Senate Republicans to save his skin.

            Don’t expect Obama to compromise on his gains. Obama’s agenda will slow, but he will exert his liberalism clandestinely through regulation and not law. His cabinet officers and czars will see to that.

            Speaking of compromise, there is no reason whatever for Republicans to compromise on any issue. Republicans were elected to stop the Obama agenda, not to modify it. It is the loser who must compromise, not the victor. Republicans should not be “reaching across the aisle.” If they do, they can just as easily be shown the door as were the Democrats this year. Only losers compromise.

            Also, conservative newcomers in the House must resist temptations to be co-opted by moderate RINOs (Republicans in Name Only). These are great compromisers.

            People voted in a partisan way for partisan representation. The worst thing House Republicans can do is compromise their principles with Democrats and RINOs. Democrats ran to the extreme left in support of Obama. Why should Republicans now meet extremists half-way and leave the nation with large leftist gains. There is no excuse for bipartisan silliness.

            Besides, an alternative of gridlock and paralysis may not be so bad. People don’t want more government. Gridlock is one way to halt the spread of government growth.

            In the long run, Republican governors are coming to power with strong control over Republican-dominated state houses. Redistricting using the 2010 census will make Democrat recovery very difficult for years to come.

            Most Americans are conservative by nature. Conservatism is not an ideology. It is a disposition and most Americans are disposed to support their own interests first by looking out for themselves and their families.

            Many untold campaign stories have yet to be heard and you won’t hear them from the mainstream media. Look to the alternative media for these encouraging stories. The mainstream media will only make excuses for the loss of their candidates.

            For conservatives, libertarians and Tea Party folks, the work starts now for the 2012 elections. No let up. No compromise. Keep the momentum going for the next two years.

Dennis M. Patrick can be contacted at P. O. Box 337, Stanley, ND 58784 or (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).