Worth remembering

As richly as the Democrats deserve the butt-kicking that will come in two months, that doesn't necessarily mean that Republicans, or at least the old bull Republicans in Washington, deserve success. Rob Port makes the point well in this piece from the Washington Examiner:

During an election cycle in which its clear that the American electorate wants change, you would think that the Republicans would embrace change within their own party. At a time when Americans are sick and tired of the status quo in Washington DC, Miller’s victory in Alaska represents voters demanding that change with their votes.

What business do national Republicans have being hostile toward the candidate Republican voters in Alaska voted to represent them in the election? That there is apparent hostility speaks to the fact that Republicans still aren’t getting it.

The Democrats are absolutely on the run this election season, but that doesn’t mean Republicans are on the rise. We are whip-sawing back and forth between the two parties - from Republican majorities under Bush to Democrat majorities and Obama and now, apparently, back to Republicans again - because Americans aren’t satisfied with how either of the two parties are governing.

Nor should they be satisfied. Republicans have a great opportunity, but it's not because of anything they've done to this point. You can win by saying "I'm not like them" for an election cycle or two -- that's what the Democrats did in 2006 or 2008. But eventually people get to know what you are like. And I'm not sure that the sparkling personalities of John Boehner or John Cornyn are going to wear that well. They aren't wearing well with me right now.