We were told that Democrats would be overwhelmed by the Republicans' "red wave," by credulous journalists who failed to understand women, young people, or all the good Biden and the Democrats have done.

This is what happens when journalists go with "traditional thought" instead of thinking for themselves.

Instead of a "red wave" that would have captured 60 seats in the House and 7 seats in the Senate like we were told over and over again, a little red dribble appeared, handing the House to Republicans by fewer than 10 seats. So few seats, in fact, that there is real doubt about whether Kevin McCarthy can get a majority of them to vote for him for Speaker. By the time he sells his soul a few times, he'll be unable to control that group of unruly, ungovernable people.

Meanwhile, over in the Senate, not only did Republicans not gain any seats, they lost one.

After the Dobbs decision was leaked, reporters should have stepped back and taken stock. Instead they ignored women and young people who were appalled by the Supreme Court decision and went with stories like these:

• CNN: The Republican wave is building fast, by Chris Cillizza
• 538: Why Virginia's and New Jersey's Elections Could Suggest A Red Wave In 2022
• Axios: Red Tsunami Watch, by Josh Kraushaar
• The Bulwark: How Big Is That Red Wave Going To Be?

The worst part of all of this is how utterly unqualified the Republican candidates were. Not just unqualified, but certifiably unfit. Yet for the entirety of the (way too long) campaign season, they were treated by the press as though they were viable. Every one of them, right down to Doug effing Mastriano, an avowed white nationalist!

So I award this Crookie to all the lazy people who just assumed this cycle would be like any other, in spite of the very real factors pushing a very different outcome.

Crookie FAIL.