And the losers I'm refering to here are the billionaires. I've seen the comments and even diaries claiming that Karl Rove and his groups wasted hundreds of millions of dollars of the billionaire oligarch's money this election.
But they didn't waste a dime. Not one lousy penny was wasted. Below the Fleur-de-Kos. Warning, math and numbers are involved, but you can handle that.
Why do I say they didn't lose a dime? Because they're not playing the same game you and I are playing. We played to win this election for Barack Obama and Democrats. They don't give a shit about that, they're playing to get trillions in federal funds routed to them by what ever means possible. Yes, Romney in the White House would've made it easier but it's still not a guaranteed loss for them.
Now for that math stuff I threatened you with. Let's keep it simple, the various groups like Crossroads and Americans For Bilking Other Americans spent roughly $200,000,000 in this election. But they're shooting for a prize of at least $1,000,000,000,000 in tax breaks, military spending, government vouchers, etc. All told the number is probably several trillion but I'm just going with one trillion. That's like you or me spending $2 on a scratch lottery ticket and hoping to win $10,000. Do we really expect to win on the first play? Are we willing to try again?
Yeah, the billionaires aren't doing handsprings (well, they might be paying servants to do them and clap and laugh) about losing but they're gambling that the 5000:1 payout will be worth it. They'd have to lose a few hundred times before it would force them to think of slightly less dishonest ways at making money, like arranging another stock market collapse. That's how profitable buying government can be -- blatant theft on Wall Street doesn't have the same ROI (return on investment). This is an investment strategy for them. They don't care about one, or even multiple loses, because in the end the payout is so high it justifies the risk and loss in the short term. The old adage, "You've got to spend money to make money" in its purest, most cynical form.
So celebrate tonight's victory. It was hard fought and well-earned. But don't think Karl Rove and company are worried about the loss. Hell, they've probably figured out ways to write it off their taxes. :P