It was the sicker of the two chambers, it needs more attention.
We need to run more candidates and improve our becoming excellent ground game even more.  We need to take the house away from demagogues.

Considering this record of deliberate intransigeance from  national level to state (didn't Senator Trott say "obstructionism has been working for us?") perhaps the Democrats should do as some in the House of Representatives have done, and investigate or otherwise highlight a few of the Republican shenanigans and operatives, not to mention the republican complete political manipulative intransigence... Terry Kilgore said it didn't do any good to cooperate with Kaine because he'd cut your hand off later(sort of like President Bush at the national level, eh?). Let's not disappoint Terry. There are plenty of questionable links and peculiar goings-on by self-righteous elephant-folk which deserve a look-see. Let's start now laying the groundwork for the next House of Delegates races in two years.

It's a shame it has come to this; people say they're tired of partisan rancor. Oh? Why, then, does it work for Republicans over and over.  Yet when Democrats try to extend the hand of bipartisanship they get blamed for partisanship equally with Republicans for contributing to partisanship rancor.  If you're going to be tarred with that brush anyway, don't hesitate to respond... graefully of course, and with malicious intent.

However, if the HOD wants to be obstructionists ... and admit that's their battle plan, they'll come to regret it down the road.

Before we even get to 2008, Democrats need to start positioning the HOD as obstructionist, anti-progress, etc.  Rather than let them define VA Dems as liberal, tax-raising, out-of-touch, etc., VA Dems need to actively plan an agenda that includes hard-to-refuse items and need to push it as the right thing for all of Virginia.  And then need to be aggressive in asking GOP HOD members how they can resist things like education funding, healthcare, transportation, whatever.

Democrats consistently fail at defining their opponents; it's something the GOP has excelled at during Bush's time in office.  On a local level, it has the power to shape how both sides are perceived.  VA Dems aren't trying to ram through a liberal agenda, they are fighting for things that all Virginians believe in, and are being blocked by the HOD, which refuses to acknowledge the need to move Virginia forward to maintain our competitive advantages.  It's not about liberal versus conservative, it's about what's right for Virginia's families, hard-working middle class, growing base of brainpower, active military presence, and business community.

Otherwise, HOD members will continue to do what they've already done - witness Griffith's quote.

The real insight in this article comes from Brian Moran:

"The lesson learned from [Tuesday's] election is to govern from the middle," said Del. Brian J. Moran (D-Alexandria)

It's a lesson that Democrats have learned, and from which their victories have emerged.  This crop of Gilmore/Allen Republicans is incapable of governing from the middle.

Thus, when Albo says "They will never take the majority. Never."  he's right.

Democrats will not take the majority, Republican will give it away, by alienating and failing to serve the interests of Virginia's voters.

Albo is the last one to be pounding his chest, it's precisely his ideology and incompetence which will pave the way for an enduring Democratic majority in the Commonwealth of Virginia... including the House of Delegates.

I am going to save the Moran quote and watch what happens during the democratic primary against Deeds

Warner and Deeds Moderate
Kaine and Moran Liberal scratch that Progressive 

STILL, together Ennis and Matthews got 35% of the vote.  There was a 35% increase in voters in HOD 28th, too! In 2003, Howell got 7,373 votes -- about 96%.  On Tuesday he got 7,205 votes about 65%. 

When Mr. Bill goes back to Richmond, the HOD Reps may want a more moderate face. Him and the remaining hard-right NOVA HODs might be relegated to a legistative corner, regardless of the tough guy comments from Albo and his ilk. 

An extraordinary number - more than 12 percent - of the vote in 42nd District in Fairfax County for write-in candidates. In one precinct it was higher than 37 percent.

Albo said a handful of anti-Republican activists who run the albomustgo Web site stood outside three precincts - Lorton, Lorton Station and Laurel Hill - to convince voters to write in other candidates' names. That doesn't explain the high numbers, one more than 10 percent, in some of the other precincts.

"It's an 8th grade campaign,'' Albo said. "They hate Republicans."

No, Dave, YOU are an 8th grade delegate.  And yeah, we don't particularly like you OR your @#$%@#$% abuser fees.  Wait 'til 2009!

Thankfully, Republican social conservative hooey will now be scuttled in the Senate.  Though, it's doubtful that they won't still waste legislative time on the House side passing that B.S.  On the things that really matter though, that are driven by fiscal policy, we are essentially in the same position.  But who knows, they might get some compromise bills out that aren't half-bad.

I think the Democratic takeover of the U.S. Congress has proven that where flipping control of a legislature can make the most difference is in changing the conversation -- providing the opportunity to highlight the issues that matter most to Dems, from climate change to education to health care. 

The more we highlight these winning issues, the more progress we make -- including the chance to mobilize public support around these issues.  If we do that effectively, we may even be able to pressure a few Repub Delegates to support us on some key issues.  If they don't play along, then we make sure they pay for it in the next election.

If that doesn't make you feel better, think back to just a few years ago when people like Allen and Gilmore were running the show.  We've come a long way, baby!

But the issues facing the state of Virginia are urgent ones.  The more time we lose on them, the more of what makes our state great slips away.  And we still have the I-believe-in-the-fairy-tale-that-you-can-get-something-for-nothing Republicans controlling the House.  Then end result being that I expect little to get done.  I will be surprised if they don't need to go into special session to pass the next biennial budget.

And, of course, low turn out is kind of depressing.  Why less people vote in state elections than in federal ones is perplexing given that state officials have a much greater impact on your daily life than federal ones.

Rome certainly wasn't built in a day, but the sacking of it didn't take long.  Destruction works much faster than creation.  And that is what we have to fear from obstructionist Republicans.

I would just add one thing, which is that Dems need to remember how to move people to get inspired by our issues to the point that Joe Sixpack is calling up his representatives, Dem or Repub, to demand action.  It's not just about Election Day, it's about mobilizing everyday citizens to demand positive change after the election too. 

That way, maybe sometimes on some votes, we can move even the Cro-Magnon House to do the right thing...