Collecting scalps

The interregnum seems a good chance to savor a few victories from this month. The Dems did not run the table; the "wave" was not as big as it was in 2006. But it was a good year. The result of this is that there are a number of particularly unpleasant characters not returning to public office.

Let's run them down. These are only defeated incumbents, not retirements or primary defeats.


Trophies Mounted On the Wall
Senate:

• Ted Stevens (AK) -- Very satisfying. Corrupt, out of touch, cantankerous, and representing all that is bad about the Senate.
  
• Elizabeth Dole (NC) -- Meh. She was swamped, I think, by her own ineffectiveness and a strong opponent. The wave helped, but this was mostly self-inflicted.
  
• Gordon Smith (OR) -- He was not terribly conservative, but too conservative for his deep blue state.
  
• John Sununu (NH) -- Not nearly as wingnutty as his dad. Sad to see moderate republicans becoming extinct. Being Republican in New England is hazardous to your health.
  

House:

• Marilyn Musgrave (CO4) -- Oh yes. This is good. Say it with me now. The Ur-wingnut and hatemeister. Nice job, coloradans! Epilogue: two weeks since the election, she has not called to congratulate the opponent, not conceded, not thanked her campaign staff, and not been seen in public. I like to imagine her lying in bed all day weeping.
  
• Bill Sali (ID1) -- From what I hear, he was just crazy. Not crazy conservative, but actually crazy nuts.
  
• Virgil Goode (VA5) -- Virulently anti-muslim. Bye!
  
• Robin Hayes (NC8) -- "Liberals hate real americans that work and believe in God." Bye!
  
• Chris Shays (CT4) -- There are now no Republicans from New England in the House.
  
• Tim Mahoney (D-FL16) -- Special Honorary Democratic trophy. Well, he was a republican till he ran for the House. Then he beat Mark Foley (R-Pedophile). But he shtupped and extorted one of his aides. Good riddance.
  

The Ones That Got Away
Senate:

• Norm Coleman (MN) -- Maybe.
  
• Saxy Chambliss (GA) -- Probably.
  
• Mitch McConnell (KY) -- Never really in danger. But it was nice to dream of pulling the Reverse Daschle.
  

House:

• Shadegg (AZ3) -- The Ur-Conservative. Never really close here, either. Rats.
  
• Michelle Bachmann (MN6) -- Neo-McCarthyite. Almost as bad as Musgrave. This one really stings.
  
• Dave Reichert (WA8) -- An inoffensive corporate, law&order republican. Mostly Harmless. But this is a blue district in a blue state in a blue year, and Darcy Burner was so great! Damn!
  
• Don Young (AK-AL) -- The House's Stevens. Corrupt, cantankerous, and out of touch. Will probably be indicted soon, but it would have been nice to have him defeated also. Alaska is a weird place.
  

Okay, enough schadenfreude. I haven't been alive for too many winning years, so I hope you will all forgive me for taking a moment to take stock of a satisfying election.