The Republicans lost this election because they allowed the media to pick their candidate, control the discussion and debate and McCain was the most irresponsible, "maverick", candidate our Party could have nominated and endorsed.  He ran away from his party on significant issues over the last 30 years including tax reform for Pete's sake.  When your Republican party nominates an Independent you are clearly spitting into the wind and defying the odds.

Add to this a group of advisers who will rank among the worst of all time. I do not need to hear someone pat themselves on the back and say "against these odds we made the race tighter than anyone would have thought."  The attack ad was ignored even when it could have been used to spell out the other sides agenda.  When pointing out facts is considered an attack ad you have committed to losing any and all elections.

 The Democratic leaders created and manufactured the financial crisis with their sub prime loan, Fannie and Freddie relationships, no income verification, no down payment, everyone deserves to own a home American dream.  Yet Republicans allowed Congress and the main street media a Watergate type cover up bailout plan to totally shift their culpability away from the instigator of the problem (them self) and allowed them to point it back at Bush while the media could continue to protect Obama.

  The Democrat's initially thought their path to the White House would be to sabotage the War and anti terrorism campaign.  This initially had some footing after the conflict did not reach the clean and quick conclusion Americans have come to expect.  However threatening to keep funds from the soldiers had a slight negative consequence and eventually the success of the surge after vilifying General Petraus's in Washington at hearings made our stunning success less of a pressing political issue.  Obama spoke of what it cost every month but safety has a price and Democracy in the world has a greater longer term benefit than any upfront cost requirement.

Next up on the "Democratic sabotage the economy to retake the White House game plan" was to sit by initially as the price of oil went to $150 per barrel and put the economy into the tail spin from which it has not yet recovered.  With the price at the pump reaching $5 a gallon American voters would have to punish the administration come the Fall election.
Republicans screamed for off shore drilling, conservative talk programs organized write in campaigns, the President came out and demanded off shore drilling  and after much stonewalling weak legislation was approved suggesting something should be done here.

Even Obama said that offshore drilling will not lower the price of gas
 2 cents.  Well don't look now but just the mention of off shore drilling immediately brought the price per barrel (ppb) down significantly to the
100 ppb range.  After that a slowing economic outlook brought down the price an additional $40 ppb to around it current $60 per barrel and gas at the pump to around $2.15 per gallon.  So it was obvious that this blow up the economy Democratic plan was ready to backfire as well.

Oh before I leave the commodities pit if you will...I find it interesting that the genius of commodities Hillary Clinton, she of the one who made $100,000 in a single one time only commodity trade during her husbands campaign, failed to see the huge price climb from $50ppb to $150 ppb and the subsequent drop to today's level of $60 ppb and did not make a trade which could have reduced her own campaign election deficit of over $25 million.

 Well the election is over and while I am disappointed in the outcome and believe that a terrible choice has been made I have learned from the past 8 years of basically Bush, Cheney and Republican bashing that now is the time to fight back.  The next 4 years should be spent attacking every issue presented by the Obama administration and for which we have fundamental differences and never give in.  Use the filibuster like they did against regulation of Fannie and Freddie Mac.  They talk of a bi partisan game but that is a one way street and all it is was talk.  Think back and look at how bipartisan the Democrat's have been  over the past 8 years. 
 
Their Congress and Senate leadership has the worse approval rating in history and they gain seats?  Hell it looks like Alaska has re elected Sen Stephens , a Republican who although under appeal, was just found guilty of corruption.  And you don't think this country needs term limits?  Now that would be change.
 
The Democrat's are a bully and attack machine and its time to give them a full does of it back..    As the media has suggested the young vote and college age students had a great deal to do with the obama win and the outcome of the election.  Voter registration drives had many of these students register on their college campuses.  Yet when one registers to vote one has to declare a new permanent address of record.  For this to be done their parents are no longer their guardians and thus lose the right to continue to use the children/young adult as an exemption on their tax returns I believe.   Effectively they moved out and are on their own.   The IRS must challenge all tax returns with college age students and compare their address of record for voting rights against their parents domicile.  They are no longer dependents if they have moved out of their  home.  When they return in the summer they are visiting?
 

While your at it stop making education dollars available through Sallie Mae and other funding programs.  These liberal educators are not your allies.  Allowing them to continue to earn lavish incomes while they attack every thing you believe in is ludicrous.  Allow and demand that
the cost of education come down.

The next thing that Republicans must do is ask that the men and women who comprise the military to ask out of servicing for every and all reasons they feel are important.  Since Democrat's basically denied them basic supplies and support over the last 6 years it would be a great time not to re enlist and basically just walk away.  Let the volunteer military need to become a mandatory draft responsibility and let the young voters be the first ones selected for the draft.

 Mitt Romney and just about anyone as a running mate would have blown Obama's doors off.  Smooth, bright, accomplished, wealthy, executive experience as Governor of Mass.,  ran the Olympics Games,  father was a Governor of Michigan.  Yeah I can see why the NY Times wanted to sabotage his campaign.  And stupid Republicans bought it hook line and sinker.   Our party deserved to lose.