First off, I just want to thank all of you for your gracious comments. I'm so used to knee-jerk insults on other web sites when I try to discuss politics.

A very clear message was sent to the Republicans in this election if they are smart enough to take their hands off their ears. "Get the crazies out of your party"

This message didn't come from the liberal establishment in the Northeast. It came right out of the heartland. Todd Akin was soundly defeated in Missouri and Richard Mourdock was plainly rejected by the good folks in Indiana. These are very conservative states if you've ever visited them. For them to choose Democrats over Republicans is a big deal. Though Democrats in those states tend to be far less liberal, but that's besides the point.

Republicans mistakenly thought in 2008 that they didn't cater enough to the far right. They thought Palin's popularity meant people wanted more radical ignoramuses. Wrong. Palin was only popular in a 'reality show' sense. People enjoy watching trainwrecks. It doesn't mean they want to vote for them. Palin scared people as a VP and that really hurt McCain.

Romney never had the guts to throw Akin and Mourdock under the bus during the campaign. If he had, he would have won the votes of many people in those swing states that might have tipped the 50/48 in his favor.

Just like Obama was smart enough to never associate himself with the lunatics of OWS, so should the Republicans turn their backs on their own lunatics.