Plus whoever won would still have to continue cleaning up Bush's mess while not ticking off the Teabaggers too much - an impossible task.

There are a couple of halfway non-insane Republicans who are sharpening their blades for 2106 - I'd say Mitch Daniels and Chris Christie are likely contenders who have some credibility. Well, Daniels doesn't much with me - I'm from Indiana and I can't say he's been a stellar governor.

My opinion from the start is that the saner Republicans wisely decided to sit this one out and let the crazies blow off some steam. Even Palin sat it out - she's morally atrocious but, I think, no dummy. We'll see her in 2016 for sure.

Can we just stop with the terms libtards and teabaggers? It's childish and disrepectful.

I don't much care for the term teabagger, but it is their own coinage. see here: http://theweek.com/article/index/202620/the-evolution-of-the... and think back to the many pictures of people suspending tea bags from hats etc., until they became aware of the slang meaning of the term. While they've tried to drop it and call themselves Tea Partiers, they've shown little inclination to temper their criticisms of others with civility or moderation, so far. Perhaps this electoral defeat will prompt some soul-searching.

Dude, I'm from Indiana and it's what they call themselves. I know what the term means to you people from cities, but come on, is that even real? Why?

I think within recent context, this is no longer the case. I'm not a member of the tea party movement, but I'm pretty sure it's seen as a derogatory term these days.

I reckon Palin sat it out because the sentiment against her is too strong right now. She's probably trying the Newt Gingrinch "I'll come back in a few years when you hate me less" strategy.