goldstategop wrote: "No - the RINOs lost"
Republican Incumbents Who Lost in the House:
Jim Ryun (KS) - ACU rating 98
J.D. Hayworth (AZ) - ACU rating 98
Richard Pombo (CA) - ACU rating 97
Chris Chocola (IN) - ACU rating 95
Gil Gutknecht (MN) - ACU rating 94
Charles Taylor (NC) - ACU rating 92
Mike Sodrel (IN) - ACU rating 92
Melissa Hart (PA) - ACU rating 91
John Hostettler (IN) - ACU rating 90
Don Sherwood (PA) - ACU rating 87
Anne Northup (KY) - ACU rating 86
Clay Shaw (NC) ACU rating 82
John Sweeney (NY) ACU rating 77
Jeb Bradley (NH) ACU rating 71
Charles Bass (NH) ACU rating 71
Curt Weldon (PA) ACU rating 70
Sue Kelly (NY) ACU rating 65
Mike Fitzpatrick (PA) ACU rating 60
Nancy Johnson (CT) ACU rating 47
Jim Leach (IA) ACU rating 43
Vacated Republican seats lost
DeLay (TX) ACU rating 95
Beuprez (COL) ACU rating 93
Green (WI) ACU rating 88
Nussle (IA) ACU rating 86
Ney (OH) ACU rating 86
Foley (FLA) ACU rating 78
Koly (AZ) ACU rating 74
Boelert (NY) ACU rating 40
Democrat Incumbent seats lost
None.
+++
Republican Incumbents Who Lost in the Senate:
Burns (MT) - ACU rating 91
Allen (VA) - ACU rating 92
Santorum (PA) - ACU rating 88
Talent (MO) - ACU rating 93
DeWine (OH) - ACU rating 80
Chafee (RI) - ACU rating 37
Democrat Incumbent seats lost
None.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
Chafee's ACU rating was a 12, identical to Hillary Clinton's.
If you take a look at the bulk of those names, many were either troubled incumbents or ran away from Conservatism. One of those on there lost because he choked his mistress in a hotel room. Again, the Republican party lost, Conservatism did not.
Of that list, about fifteen should be an relatively easy return to the GOP.
Look what happened in Ohio -- our new Governor's (Strickland) ACU rating and our new Senator's (Sherrod Brown) ACU rating -- they're both right there with Kucinich's rating. We lost for more than one reason: (1) the media (the main reason), (2) Iraq, (3) corruption in Ohio. Look at how the people voted in Ohio on the four issues on the ballot (which were all bad law) -- two of them passed (one was indented purposely to be voted down). More DEMs came out to vote than GOPers. More independents went to the DEMs. I think it was this: (1) more voters tended to side with the non-constant negativism of the media (i.e, change needed for change sake -- ignorance), and (2) more voters went over to the other side without thinking of the consequences (e.g., the two Ohio issues that passed that are bad law and which were NOT necessary (i.e., minimum wage and smoking).
Since the election, I have finally heard DEMs speaking out with ridiculous comments (i.e., Bush Administration spying on Americans) and Mary Cheney being pregnant (GOPers supposed to be the examples).
My conclusion: Many people did not think of the consequences of what they were voting on nor did they bother to do a little research (yes, I call this ignorance and stupidity), constant vicious negativism of the media and voted for change for change sake. Couple that, with the lack of knowledge (emotions) on what you are voting on, along with this country truly being split down the middle of party lines, and I think you have the answer.
J.D. Hayworth (AZ) - ACU rating 98 Lost to Harry Mitchell by a small margin in a majority dem district. Mitchell runs hard right on illegal immigration with an eye toward more social spending on education, medicare and social security while trumpeting fiscal conservatism. :-} He favors funding ESR as well. More spending by the fed.
Richard Pombo (CA) - ACU rating 97 Loses to Jerry McNerney 53-47. McNerney runs on the environment, aginst the Iraq war and by tying Pombo to Abramhof.
Chris Chocola (IN) - ACU rating 95 Chocola loses to Joe Donnelly a social conservative who runs against CAFTA/NAFTA.
Gil Gutknecht (MN) - ACU rating 94 Loses to Wlatz, a knowledgeable candidate who runs against the Iraq war but the probable issue that lost it for Gutknecht was a local issue have ing to do with the DM&E railroad and coal.
Charles Taylor (NC) - ACU rating 92 Loses to Heath Schuler a social conservative. Issues? Iraq, CAFTA/NAFTA and corruption.
Mike Sodrel (IN) - ACU rating 92 Loses to Baron Hill who formerly held the seat 49-46. Hill, a social conservaitve, runs on Iraq, health care and get this, "Change". On a side note, he returned a $1000 donation from John Kerry.
Melissa Hart (PA) - ACU rating 91 Loses to Jason Altmire, a social moderate but big gun guy in a majority dem district. Altmire ties Bush and Santorum to Hart and runs against illegal immigration. This one broke my heart, so to speak.
No evidence thus far supporting your or the authors thesis.
More later if you wish.