RUSH: I don’t know if you heard about this, ladies and gentlemen. ‘Republicans retained control of two Congressional seats Tuesday in special elections in Ohio and Virginia, thwarting Democratic efforts to expand their control in the House. The elections were held to complete the terms of members of the House who had died. In Virginia, Robert J. Wittman, a first-term Republican state legislator, easily defeated the Democratic candidate, Philip Forgit, a teacher. Mr. Wittman will complete the term of Jo Ann Davis, who had represented a southeastern Virginia district for seven years. Ms. Davis died of breast cancer in October. In Ohio, Robert E. Latta, a Republican state representative, defeated Robin Weirauch, a Democrat who was making her third run. Mr. Latta will replace Paul E. Gillmor, who died in a fall in September.’ That’s an AP story in the New York Times. One, two, three paragraphs, and no analysis about 2008 after these victories, New York Times? Well, wait. There is some analysis, if you go to The Politico. Bobby Jindal’s win was obviously not a fluke. It was portrayed as a fluke down in Louisiana when we won the governorship down there. It wasn’t a fluke. Maybe it’s part of a trend.
The Politico: ‘Republicans Win in Virginia, Ohio Elections.’ We have some analysis here. ‘The story of the evening was Latta’s victory, however, given signs in recent weeks that the reliably Republican district, based in Bowling Green, was in danger of falling into Democratic hands.’ Really? Well, if it was in danger, why didn’t it? Who said it was in danger of falling into Democrat hands? ‘The victory was not cheap for the GOP, as, in fact, both party campaign committees spent sizable sums to contest the race.’ The Democrat Congressional Campaign Committee spent 244 grand. The Republicans spent 428. ‘National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Cole also credited Latta’s tough message on border security and holding the line on taxes for the victory.’ I hate to say… Folks, please I am not bragging when I do this, and I’m not trying to call attention to myself, but I know that not everybody can listen to all of the program every day. It would be nice if you did, but I know there are other things that occasionally take you away — and, for the past month, after looking at election returns in November, particularly ballot initiatives in liberal states — it has become clear that immigration and taxes are the issues next year if somebody will just get on ’em.
It’s not per se the economy, and it’s not the Iraq war. It’s taxes and it’s immigration, and right here: ‘Tom Cole credited Latta’s tough message,’ he was in danger of losing to the Democrats in Kentucky, ‘on border security and holding the line on taxes for the victory.’ That’s right. In Massachusetts, in a solid Democrat district, a Republican almost pulled it out there in a special election not long ago — and I only mention this because these trends the conventional wisdom is that the election is a foregone thing. The House is going to get bigger Democrat; the Senate is going to get bigger Democrat. Of course, Mrs. Clinton’s going to be elected president. That’s because everybody hates Bush, and because everybody hates Bush, everybody hates Republicans, and yet here a couple Republicans won — and the New York Times, three paragraphs, ho-hum, yawn, yawn. (new castrati impression) ‘Well, this doesn’t mean anything, Mr. Limbaugh! These are special elections. Nobody knew about it. Turnout was very low. You can’t say this was a trend, Mr. Limbaugh!’ Uhhh, yes, I can. It’s my show. I can say whatever I want.