Insight: “Under democracy one party always devotes its chief energies to trying to prove that the other party is unfit to rule — and both commonly succeed, and are right.” —H. L. Mencken (1880-1956)

For the record: “The House defeat is also a message from moderate Republicans and independents, especially women put off by Mr. Trump’s rancorous style. A question in the October Wall Street Journal-NBC poll puts this problem in sharp relief. While 44% of voters approve of Mr. Trump’s policies, some 20% like his policies but dislike him personally. That 20% is five times the percentage who disliked George W. Bush but liked his policies when he lost the House in 2006, and 10 times the share that disliked Barack Obama in 2013. Worse for Mr. Trump, the share of voters who dislike him personally but like his policies increased in the past two years.” —The Wall Street Journal

Political futures: “Republicans lost 26 seats in House in 1982. In 1984 Reagan was re-elected in a landslide, winning 49 of 50 states. Red team lost 26 house seats [Tuesday] night. Time to gear up!"—Star Parker

Fact check: true: "There are no reports of Republicans rioting or burning down cities or pillaging and plundering [Tuesday] night. #civility” —Todd Starnes

Snark: “So weird that Russia decided to only hack the Senate elections.” —Eddie Zipperer

Warning to the Left: “The Democrats in the House will have to decide just how much presidential harassment they think is good strategy. I’m not so sure it will work for them.” —Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell

Belly laugh of the week: “Today is more than about Democrats and Republicans. It’s about restoring the Constitution’s checks and balances to the Trump administration.” —House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

And last… “Kinda funny the Democrats putting all their hope behind Beto [O'Rourke], a white male, when they’ve successfully chased about all of them out of the party.” —Frank Fleming