Guy Collins (SD-45A) offered some excellent insight after the November 7 election:

Over the next few weeks I'll post some thoughts on the '06 elections: national, state, and local, (with more of a tilt toward the local) I plan to do this in a multi-part series with the theme of Pride, Perspective, and Perseverance. Or to put it another way:

I'll start with some notes on why true conservatives at every level should be proud. Here goes.....

Pride
I am very PROUD to be a conservative Republican in Minnesota. I am proud of what true conservatives in our party stand for, and and their integrity, demeanor, intelligence, and spirit. I am proud of how they work tirelessly to educate and communicate conservative ideals.

Graciousness and Humility in Defeat (Pride Part 1)
I am PROUD of how our party faithful, candidates, party leadership handles itself in defeat, in contrast to the opposition:

1) we don't blame the other party for lying or scare-mongering, or pandering to the fringe "extremists";

2) we don't complain about election fraud, or "stolen elections". We don't make these claims focal talking points every time the election results are brought up historically. (BTW- its not for lack of material to investigate - see ACORN, Philly fraud, etc).

3) we don't drag the country through weeks of shady partisan recounts and lawyering. See Burns in MT and Allen in VA. Both were well within the range of a state-paid recount - neither has asked for one. Both accepted defeat graciously, and have helped the nation move on. (Note: kudos to former AG Hatch in MN for not asking for a recount - give credit where its due).

A US Senate recount stakes would've been huger. A gain of a couple thousand votes, and a related Senate seat would've allowed Republicans to retain control of the Senate. Ask yourself: would Schumer, Reid, Gore, Kerry, etc. concede, in the same position? HA! Oh yeah, algore, I painfully remember you've already answered that for us.... gee thanks.

4) we don't ask "what's wrong with those stupid, hayseed, knuckle-dragging, Christianist voters? And more importantly, how can we marginalize them or remove their voice from the public square?"

We instead hear and respect the voter's voice, and say, "what did WE do wrong, and how can WE fix it to win the voters back, or to inspire them to vote for us?"

5) we are rational enough to calmly and coolly assess the damage, but also assess what worked, in this cycle and in the past, then determine what is a winning strategy in the future. This is opposed to the liberals':

Stay tuned for Pride Part 2.... Local candidates