Misunderstanding the 2010 Election

My congratulations to the new Republican members of the 112th Congress; I regret that I will not be joining you (at least not this time around). Now, however, an even harder task lies before you, since the Dems still control the Senate and the White House.
The political punditsphere has been busing cranking out stuff, much of it not entirely correct. So, here goes:

It Is Not A Republican Tide
What happened on Nov. 2 was the Democratic tide, which swept in 2008, sweeping back out to sea, and the Republicans happened to be left standing, kinda like the barnacles on the wooden legs of a pier. Have no doubt: it will be back. It is not a question of if, but when.

Voters Are Voting Their Pocketbooks, As Always
In 2008, the economy was in the toilet, so they voted out the political party in power, as they always do. In 2010, the exact same thing happened. If the economy in 2012 is still crappy, the same thing will happen again; it is only a question of whom the voters will blame.

It Is Not An Endorsement Of Establishment Republicanism
Many establishment Republicans are puffy out their chests, and crowing about now being their turn. The stunning success of the 112th class has nothing to do with standard, country club Republicans, who they are, or what they believe in. If I were them, I would not be so cocky.

It’s The Tea Party, Stupid
The energy and strength of the Republican candidates stemmed almost entirely from the Tea Party. To them we owe the victory on Nov. 2.

The Republican Party Now Has A Constitutionalist Wing
Perhaps largely unnoticed or mostly ridiculed is that many of the new Republicans are Tea Partiers who have read and understand the Federalist Papers, and the original meaning of the Constitution. They are going to demand that the behavior of the Federal Government resemble the vision of our Founding Fathers. This is just as likely to upset the Republican as well as Democratic apple cart. It is only a question of the Tea Partiers being political savy enough to make their voices felt and translated into legislation.