Julian Zelizer: Democrats Shouldn't Be So Blue Anymore
[Julian E. Zelizer is a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School. His new book is "Arsenal of Democracy: The Politics of National Security: From World War II to the War on Terrorism," published by Basic Books. Zelizer writes widely about current events.]
For several weeks, Democrats have been feeling blue about the 2010 midterm elections. Many have been worried about the possibility of a precipitous decline in the size of their majority in the House and Senate, or even about Republicans retaking control of Congress.
The primaries and special elections turned into a litmus test on the condition of Democrats. If that assumption is true, then Tuesday produced some good news. Even with the alleged "anti-incumbent" fever that has spread through parts of the electorate, Democrats came out of several key races with positive news....
...Joe Sestak defeated Sen. Arlen Specter in the primaries. While many commentators have pointed to Specter's defeat as yet another sign of the instability facing incumbents, in fact, this should be seen as evidence of Democratic strength. With Sestak, activists lined up behind a candidate with solid Democratic credentials to defeat a Republican centrist who had just recently shifted parties to retain his seat.
Sestak's victory demonstrates that some of the grass-roots energy from the 2008 presidential election is still alive and kicking. Pennsylvania primary voters wanted to make certain their party stayed true to its principles and didn't settle for watered-down compromise....
The final source for Democratic hope comes from Kentucky, where Republican Rand Paul defeated the GOP establishment-backed Trey Grayson. Paul is the first major Tea Party candidate to actually win a contest, as opposed to an establishment Republican like Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown, who won as a result of their support.
Paul presents a major challenge to the GOP. Some of the more extremist arguments of the Tea Party movement will now be front and center because of his candidacy. Paul has taken some very strong stands against any overseas intervention -- which clashes with the direction the GOP has taken on foreign policy since the Cold War, and especially since 9/11-- and he has made some controversial statements about domestic policy, including expressing doubts about certain parts of the Civil Rights Act of 1964....
Read entire article at CNN.com
For several weeks, Democrats have been feeling blue about the 2010 midterm elections. Many have been worried about the possibility of a precipitous decline in the size of their majority in the House and Senate, or even about Republicans retaking control of Congress.
The primaries and special elections turned into a litmus test on the condition of Democrats. If that assumption is true, then Tuesday produced some good news. Even with the alleged "anti-incumbent" fever that has spread through parts of the electorate, Democrats came out of several key races with positive news....
...Joe Sestak defeated Sen. Arlen Specter in the primaries. While many commentators have pointed to Specter's defeat as yet another sign of the instability facing incumbents, in fact, this should be seen as evidence of Democratic strength. With Sestak, activists lined up behind a candidate with solid Democratic credentials to defeat a Republican centrist who had just recently shifted parties to retain his seat.
Sestak's victory demonstrates that some of the grass-roots energy from the 2008 presidential election is still alive and kicking. Pennsylvania primary voters wanted to make certain their party stayed true to its principles and didn't settle for watered-down compromise....
The final source for Democratic hope comes from Kentucky, where Republican Rand Paul defeated the GOP establishment-backed Trey Grayson. Paul is the first major Tea Party candidate to actually win a contest, as opposed to an establishment Republican like Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown, who won as a result of their support.
Paul presents a major challenge to the GOP. Some of the more extremist arguments of the Tea Party movement will now be front and center because of his candidacy. Paul has taken some very strong stands against any overseas intervention -- which clashes with the direction the GOP has taken on foreign policy since the Cold War, and especially since 9/11-- and he has made some controversial statements about domestic policy, including expressing doubts about certain parts of the Civil Rights Act of 1964....