Yes, I admit that this title appears ridiculous at first glance. But think about it for a minute. A week ago, oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) seemed like a done deal in the U.S. Congress. Now, as SaveOurEnvironment.org puts it, "22 brave moderate Republicans stood their ground and announced that they would not vote for a budget bill that included provisions for Arctic drilling." Reportedly, the ANWR provision was dropped late on November 9. As a result, drilling in this pristine reserve is dead for the moment. So what changed between the first week in November and the 9th? Hmmm....let's think really really hard about this one. Put on your thinking caps, everybody! But seriously...what changed between, oh, November 6th and November 9th was something called "Election Day." And what happened on Election Day - the victory of Tim Kaine in Virginia, first and foremost - threw Republican moderates (yes, there are still a few of them left!) into a panic. So much for George W. Bush's hard-right agenda, at least for now!
In other words, Tim Kaine's victory Tuesday, combined with a landslide for Jon Corzine in New Jersey and the termination of Ah-nuld's ref-ah-ren-duh in Kah-li-fawn-ya, appears to have had broader consequences after all. For the time being, and maybe longer, the Republican coalition appears to have lost some of the "lock" in its usual "lockstep." As we asked back on October 20:
...will we see a Republican civil war in Virginia after November 8th, especially if ? as it now appears more likely every day ? Kilgore/Bolling/McDonnell lose the election in 19 days? Will we see Chamber of Commerce ?tax and spend? Republicans and ?Club for Growth? anti-tax fanatics at each others? throats? Pat Robertson/?Taliban Bob? social issue radicals battling Russ Potts moderates? George Allen Ultra-Conservatives fighting John Warner Mainstream Republicans?
It's still early, but so far, our forecast is looking increasingly likely. For now, however, we can thank the voters of Virginia and Tim Kaine for saving the Arctic National Widlife Refuge, at least for a while longer.