Democrats Forgot the Lessons of the “Shellacking”

November 2, 2011

A Year After a Historic Electoral Repudiation, Democrats Are Trying to Pretend Voters Didn’t Reject Their Agenda of More Spending, Taxing and Borrowing

On November 2, 2010, Washington Democrats received the most resounding electoral rebuke in more than 60 years—a 63 seat loss in the U.S. House of Representatives that even President Obama conceded was a “shellacking” to his party.
But a year after receiving a stunning repudiation of their policies, Democrats have learned absolutely nothing. Democrats continue to get in line behind more of the same failed policies: more failed stimulus, more job-destroying tax increases and more borrowing from countries like China.
And they’re not done yet. President Obama claims he has 40% of his agenda left to impose on America, and wants to return Nancy Pelosi to the speaker’s chair.

BACKGROUND

On November 2, 2010, Washington Democrats received the most resounding electoral rebuke in more than 60 years—a 63 seat loss in the U.S. House of Representatives that even President Obama conceded was a “shellacking” to his party:

“OBAMA CONCEDES SHELLACKING”: “A pensive and introspective President Obama said Wednesday the election was a ‘shellacking’ and took responsibility for his party’s disastrous showing, saying that in the rush to get things done, they forgot to make good on their promise to change the way Washington works.” (Kara Rowland, “Obama Concedes ‘Shellacking,’” The Washington Times, 11/3/2011)

THE MOST PICKUPS IN THE HOUSE BY EITHER PARTY SINCE 1948: (Richard E. Cohen, “GOP Plays It Safe on Redistricting,” Politico, 3/16/2011)

ANTI-OBAMA COATTAILS: 680 STATE LEGISLATIVE SEATS PICKED-UP, “THE MOST IN THE MODERN ERA”: (Jeremy P. Jacobs, “Devastation: GOP Picks Up 680 State Leg. Seats,”National Journal’s “Hotline on Call”, 11/4/2011)

But a year after receiving a stunning repudiation of their policies, Democrats have learned absolutely nothing. Democrats continue to get in line behind more of the same failed policies: more failed stimulus, more job-destroying tax increases and more borrowing from countries like China:

MORE STIMULUS: 93 DEMOCRATS OFFICIALLY COSPONSORING OBAMA’S STIMULUS 2.0: (Thomas.gov, Accessed 11/01/2011)

AND MORE DEMOCRATS MAY BE GETTING READY TO SIGN ON: “Well, the co-sponsorship is really not reflective of the widespread support that exists in the Democratic caucus and in the country for the American Jobs Act.” (CNN’s “State of the Union,” 10/16/2011)

MORE TAXES—NEARLY $2 TRILLION MORE: “OBAMA VOWS VETO IF DEFICIT PLAN HAS NO TAX INCREASES”: (Helene Cooper, “Obama Vows Veto if Deficit Plan Has No Tax Increases,” The New York Times, 9/19/2011)

AND PROPOSES $1.5 TRILLION IN NEW TAX HIKES. (Helene Cooper, “Obama Vows Veto if Deficit Plan Has No Tax Increases,” The New York Times, 9/19/2011)

RIGHT AFTER OBAMA OFFERED $467 BILLION IN TAX INCREASES TO PAY FOR STIMULUS 2.0: “The Obama administration is asking Congress to raise taxes by $467 billion over 10 years to pay for the President’s one-year $447 billion stimulus, which he announced during a speech Thursday before a joint session of Congress.”(Neil Munro, “Obama Asks Congress for $467-Billion Tax Increase to Fund Jobs Plan,” The Daily Caller, 9/12/2011)

MORE DEBT: “U.S. BUDGET DEFICIT HIT $1.3 TRILLION IN FISCAL 2011,” “STAYINGABOVE $1 TRILLION FOR A THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR”: “The U.S. budget gap widened slightly in fiscal 2011, staying above $1 trillion for a third straight year and providing fodder for a political battle over taxes and spending ahead of next year’s presidential election.” (“US Budget Deficit Hits $1.3 Trillion in Fiscal 2011,” Reuters, 10/14/2011)

“NATIONAL DEBT HAS NOW INCREASED $4 TRILLION ON PRESIDENT OBAMA’S WATCH.” “The latest posting by the Treasury Department shows the national debt has now increased $4 trillion on President Obama’s watch. The debt was $10.626 trillion on the day Mr. Obama took office. The latest calculation from Treasury shows the debt has now hit $14.639 trillion.” (Mark Knoller, “National Debt Has Increased $4 Trillion Under Obama,” CBS News, 8/22/2011)

OBAMA DEBT BURDEN “THE MOST RAPID INCREASE IN THE DEBT UNDER ANY U.S. PRESIDENT.” (Mark Knoller, “National Debt Has Increased $4 Trillion Under Obama,” CBS News, 8/22/2011)

And they’re not done yet. President Obama claims he has 40% of his agenda left to impose on America, and wants to return Nancy Pelosi to the speaker’s chair:

OBAMA TO HOLLYWOOD: “WE’VE GOT ABOUT 60 PERCENT DONE,” 40 PERCENT LEFT TO GO: “Remarking that he keeps a checklist of goals in his desk, Mr. Obama took out a pen and acted as if he were checking off some items on his list.

“ ‘We’ve got about 60 percent done,’ he said. ‘I’m pretty confident we can get the next 40 percent done in the next five years.’” (Stephanie Condon, “Obama Tells Hollywood Supporters, I’ve Finished 60% of My Goals,” CBS News, 10/25/2011)

OBAMA: PELOSI “WAS ONE OF THE BEST SPEAKERS” EVER: “‘I am biased, but I think Nancy was one of the best Speakers of the House this country ever had,’ Obama said after Pelosi had introduced him at the National Italian American Foundation gala.” (Jamie Klatell, “Obama: Pelosi was ‘one of the best’ Speakers, will be back in 2013,” The Hill’s Blog Briefing Room, 10/30/2011)

MORE OBAMA: GOAL TO MAKE HER PELOSI SPEAKER AGAIN IN 2013: “‘And I believe that she will be the best Speaker of the House again in 2013.’” (Jamie Klatell, “Obama: Pelosi was ‘one of the best’ Speakers, will be back in 2013,” The Hill’s Blog Briefing Room, 10/30/2011)