Jon Stewart had a good piece last night on Tuesday's election results, and echoed Karl Frisch in saying that Republicans did NOT "overreach", but were rather doing exactly what they set out to do.
All in all, a tough night for the conservative revolution. There must be a simple explanation. Quick, to the narrative machine!
11/9/2011:
CAROL COSTELLO: Did Republicans overreach?
CARL QUINTANILLA: A bridge too far by the GOP.
GRETCHEN CARLSON: Did it go too far?
FOX NEWS WOMAN: It was about overreaching.
Overreach... are you aware of their platform?
ARIZONA STATE SEN. RUSSELL PEARCE (4/15/2010): We're going to take the handcuffs off of law enforcement, we're going to put them on the bad guys. Illegal is not a race, it's a crime.
RNC CHAIRMAN REINCE PRIEBUS (1/3/2011): Now we do believe that life begins at conception, and that at the moment of conception, every individual is entitled to the freedoms under the Declaration of Independence and the 14th Amendment of our Constitution.
OHIO GOVERNOR JOHN KASICH (12/9/2010): I really don't think the right to strike of any public employee ... they got good jobs, they got a high pay, they got good benefits, a great retirement, what are they striking for?
The problem isn't conservative politicians overreached. The problem is, they tried to do exactly what they said they were going to do. It'd be like drinking Red Bull, and then complaining 'cause you got wings.
Video and full transcript below the fold.
As you recall, it was just a year ago that the Republican Party cruised to a massive midterm election victory, once and for all taking America back from the Democrats, who had themselves taken it back just two years earlier. Conservatives in the Hizzy, and to a lesser, but still quite filibustery, extent, the Senate.
So, yesterday's off-year election was the first chance for voters to show their approval for this new Republican agenda. Let's check in on some of the big races.
CHRISTINE ROMANS (11/9/2011): Ohio voters, by a nearly 2:1 margin, repealed a new law restricting the collective bargaining rights of state and local employee unions.
FOX NEWS REPORTER (11/8/2011): This is a huge defeat for Republican Governor Kasich, and a huge victory for organized labor.
Wow, a huge victory for organized labor. This is what it's come to for organized labor. A huge victory means unions will be allowed to continue to exist. This is our biggest night since 1992's We Don't Have to Use a Sick Day to Celebrate Christmas victory.
In fact, last night's loss was so humiliating for Ohio Governor Kasich, that Fox News declared him a Democrat.
That's right. That's how bad it was. (in Mafia voice) No, no, no. Kasich, no. You're dead to us. You're not a governor, you're not a friend... you're a Democrat. Now go home and get your fucking shinebox!
Moving on to Mississippi, a state so red, even the art house movie theaters play Larry the Cable Guy stand-up specials. Yesterday, Mississippi voters were considering a state constitutional amendment that would have defined embryos as people, from the moment of their fertilization. Single-celled blastulas, with all the rights of actual corporations!
EARLY SHOW (11/9/2011): Mississippi voters easily defeated a measure aimed at outlawing abortion. The so-called personhood initiative would have declared life begins at conception.
Wow, so apparently voters can oppose abortion, without believing that a woman who uses an IUD is a serial killer.
(takes out tape recorder) Screenplay idea: IUDs turn normal women into mass murderers.
No, no.
No, no.
Wait.
All right, we'll be right back. How about.... (cameraman moves camera away as if segment were over)
I don't know what just happened. How bad is it when the cameraman goes, "Fuck this, I'm outta here!" (giggles) I'm sorry, Franklin. All right.
How about Arizona? Ground Zero for a national wave of harsh new anti-immigration laws. A state so red, it thinks its own name sounds a little too Mexican. What happened there?
ALI VELSHI (11/9/2011): Arizona voters recalled Republican state senator Russell Pearce. He's the lawmaker who sponsored the state's strict immigration law requiring police to check the immigration status of anyone they stop.
Ironically, Pearce was beaten so badly in this election, that he cracked open and candy spilled out.
All in all... (wild audience applause) now you love me again.
All in all, a tough night for the conservative revolution. There must be a simple explanation. Quick, to the narrative machine!
11/9/2011:
CAROL COSTELLO: Did Republicans overreach?
CARL QUINTANILLA: A bridge too far by the GOP.
GRETCHEN CARLSON: Did it go too far?
FOX NEWS WOMAN: It was about overreaching.
Overreach... are you aware of their platform?
ARIZONA STATE SEN. RUSSELL PEARCE (4/15/2010): We're going to take the handcuffs off of law enforcement, we're going to put them on the bad guys. Illegal is not a race, it's a crime.
RNC CHAIRMAN REINCE PRIEBUS (1/3/2011): Now we do believe that life begins at conception, and that at the moment of conception, every individual is entitled to the freedoms under the Declaration of Independence and the 14th Amendment of our Constitution.
OHIO GOVERNOR JOHN KASICH (12/9/2010): I really don't think the right to strike of any public employee ... they got good jobs, they got a high pay, they got good benefits, a great retirement, what are they striking for?
The problem isn't conservative politicians overreached. The problem is, they tried to do exactly what they said they were going to do. It'd be like drinking Red Bull, and then complaining 'cause you got wings. We'll be right back.
Jon and Stephen both covered the latest in the Herman Cain sexual harassment charges.
Jon's guest was Nancy Pelosi, so of course it went long. Here's the unedited interview in three parts.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Meanwhile, Stephen looked at the Michigan anti-bullying law that allows for bullying if you use religion as an excuse for the bullying.
And in Stephen's ongoing war with Jimmy Fallon, he's taken it to the next level by having his ice cream
defy gravity. Stephen's guest was Father
Jim Martin, who has a book on the humor of the Bible.