Utopian Empire and its cheerful cadres continues apace while the insecure homeland drops bricks from the eaves.

Sarah Palin as a charismatic represents the train wreck wing of charismatic thought such that any unfolding disaster always commands attention quite easily.

Such are the hazards of political intercourse as public entertainment.

Of course, there was also dissatisfaction with the Governor’s performance and with the gridlock every year in passing a budget. It will be interesting to see what the Democrats do in Sacramento without the excuse of having to “compromise” with the Republican minority on the budget.

A bit of good news: the proposition assigning the drawing of congressional seats to an independent commission passed. It was a long time coming.

I think it’s important. When you consider how many seats in the House of Representatives were “in play” vs. those which were “safe”, the new Republican majority seems a little less impressive.

“The United States is the only advanced democratic country which allows politicians to draw legislative districts”. Perhaps things will change somewhat here in 2012, when we have state legislative and federal congressional districts which were not drawn by politicians.

Granted the Republican field now looks very strong. (Hooray!) But with the exception of Jindal and Christy, they are all “rookies”. In another year, Palin will have had 3 years of campaigning, tweeting, writing, and speaking behind her.

Yes, again, she has a lot of perceived negatives. But she has a lot of charisma, and perhaps more importantly, some of the freshman class of Republicans, both congressmen and governors, will owe her big time.

Furthermore, even if she has (much?) less of a chance at the nomination, she can still play a significant role as “king (queen?)-maker”.

I guess that depends on what you mean by “policy.” If you’re point it that the frustration which drove so many voters in the direction of the GOP has its roots in policies enacted by the Democrats and President Obama, then yes. But if you mean that the results of the election reflect specific policy preferences, than I would disagree with your conclusion. The Tea Party-energized Republican victors have a wonderful target in Obama and the ACA, but insofar as a plan for how to govern through or around or against them, they don’t have much. They don’t have a Gingrich, in other words, or at least not one that I can see.