Best post-mortem on Election 2010

I've read a lot of post-mortems on the election and I have to agree this is one of the best. Gin and Tacos explains the "mandate" and the Democratic bloodbath The crappy economy aside, on the most basic level, Democrats lost because "the base" didn't show up at the ballot box. But I especially liked this analysis:

But for those who need the grand explanation, the sweeping conclusions drawn from limited data, the themes that allow us to boil elections down to slogans, I humbly submit the following.

1. Social Security reform that guarantees my current level of benefits, alters someone else's, and cuts everyone's Social Security taxes to boot.

2. A world-class national infrastructure that can be built and maintained without tax dollars.

3. A balanced budget that doesn't sacrifice any of the government programs – especially the sacred military-industrial complex and the various old age benefits – that we like.

Read the whole list at the link. It's biting because it's true. And the summation is brilliantly succinct.

It couldn't be any clearer: we want a government that will resolve every problem we currently face with solutions that require no effort, no sacrifices, and no money. And I have no doubt that we have elected a group of people brave enough to promise exactly that.

And, of course, who won't deliver on those promises at all. [Via matttbastard.]