As kos noted in "PA-12 is a bellwether, unless the Democrat wins":
We spent the last two weeks hearing how yesterday's House special election in PA-12 -- the only district won by Kerry that McCain won -- would be indicative of November's elections.
The conventional "Democrats are Doomed" wisdom dictated that the Democrats should have lost Murtha's seat
this was a race that Republicans -- in this kind of political environment -- should have been able to win. ...this was the only congressional district in the country that John Kerry won in ’04 but Obama lost in ’08, meaning that it was ripe for the picking.
Not only did the Democrats win that race, but the Democrats have been dominating the Republicans in special elections:.
The Democrats are the ones winning [special elections]-- four straight this cycle (PA-12, NY-23, CA-10, NY-20) and seven since 2008 (IL-14, MS-1, LA-6).
What do you think would happen, if the Republicans were to finally win a special election? That's right: the AP ignores all the Democratic victories, to create the impression of a GOP wave (emphasis added):
HONOLULU – Republicans scored a midterm election victory Saturday when Honolulu City Councilman Charles Djou won a Democratic-held House seat in Hawaii in the district where President Barack Obama grew up — the latest triumph for the GOP as it looks to take back control of Congress.
Djou's victory was a blow to Obama and other Democrats ...[in] a congressional race that should have been a cakewalk
Maybe I just missed its coverage on PA-12, but I don't recall the AP describing the GOP's loss of that "congressional race that should have been a cakewalk" as a "blow" to its electoral prospects.
Republicans see the victory as a powerful statement about their momentum heading into November.
Does anybody recall the AP making this kind of observation, when the Dems were winning PA-12, NY-23, CA-10, NY-20, IL-14, MS-1 and LA-6?
Finally, check out this "objective journalism" from the AP "reporters":
[The GOP candidate]... ran a disciplined campaign focused on taxes and government spending at a time when Hawaii's tourism-driven economy remains troubled, with the state facing a $1 billion deficit, large cuts to state programs and workers and an unemployment rate that has nearly doubled in the last three years....
.....He burnished his conservative bona fides during the campaign, making appearances at Hawaii's tea party protest and on Fox News Channel for an interview with host Sean Hannity.
His message was clear: Taxes are too high, the federal government has grown too large, and wasteful government spending hinders economic prosperity.
When I read the above, I didn't even think about it. The words just leaped out of my mouth:
Are you fucking kidding me?!
UPDATE
A blast from the past, for Kossacks who weren't here when the AP's agenda was clearly revealed back in 2008:
The Associated Press Continues With Their Hack-Style Journalism
UPDATE2
I live in New Zealand, so I was asleep when you put me on the rec list. Thank you all very much!