Are Americans Turning Sharply Left?

I was just listening to CBC Radio One's "As It Happens" program this evening, one day after the U.S. mid-term elections. To offer a clear and balanced analysis on what the results meant, guess who their first two guests were? First was Bernie Sanders from Vermont, the self-declared "first ever socialist U.S. Senator". He was followed by Keith Ellison from Minnesota, the first Muslim ever to be elected to Congress. And what did each have to say? Well, humility was not a strong point in the diatribe of either. Taking their words at face value, one would think that Americans had suddenly decided it was long overdue to apply for membership in the EU!

But there is no mistaking the assertion by Democrat politicians and supporters and most everyone in the mainstream media that Americans have made a sharp left turn and have given up on conservatism that has so been a part of the country since Ronald Reagan was elected back in 1980. All assertions, be they political or scientific, should be challenged by facts. So let's do that with this one. If it is indeed true that America is now following Europe and Venezuela and Nicaragua and Cuba into the promised land of socialism, then how would proponents of this belief explain these ballot results from yesterday:

• Arizona Proposition 103 - English as Official Language (Yes: 74% No: 26%)
• California Proposition 87 - Funds for Alternative Energy (Yes: 45% No: 55%)
• Colorado Referendum 1 - Domestic Partnership (Yes: 47% No: 53%)
• Colorado Amendment 43 - Ban Same-Sex Marriage (Yes: 56% No: 44%)
• Colorado Amendment 44 - Legalize Marijuana (Yes: 40% No: 60%)
• Idaho Amendment 2 - Ban Same-Sex Marriage (Yes: 63% No: 37%)
• Michigan Proposition 2 - Restrict Affirmative Action (Yes: 58% No: 42%)
• Nevada Question 7 - Legalize Marijuana (Yes: 44% No: 56%)
• South Carolina Amendment 1 - Ban Same-Sex Marriage (Yes: 78% No: 22%)
• South Dakota Amendment C - Ban Same-Sex Marriage (Yes: 52% No: 48%)
• South Dakota Initiative 4 - Allow Medical Marijuana (Yes: 48% No: 52%)
• Tennessee Amendment 1 - Ban Same-Sex Marriage (Yes: 81% No: 19%)
• Virginia Ballot Question 1 - Ban Same-Sex Marriage (Yes: 57% No: 43%)
• Wisconsin Referendum 1 - Ban Same-Sex Marriage (Yes: 59% No: 41%)

Here are some other interesting facts to compare with those above:

• California re-elected Democrat senator Dianne Feinstein with 60% of the vote. Her Republican opponent received only 35%.
  
• Michigan re-elected Democrat senator Debbie Stabenow with 57% of the vote. Her Republican opponent received only 41%.
• Wisconsin re-elected Democrat senator Herb Kohl with 67% of the vote. His Republican opponent received only 30%.
• Of the 7 House races in Colorado, the Democrats won 57%.
  
• Of the 8 House races in Wisconsin, the Democrats won 62%.
  
• Of the 9 House races in Tennessee, the Democrats won 5.
  

There's a great old sarcastic expression that is perfect to use if someone is saying something absolutely preposterous: "Don't let the facts get in the way of your views!" Might this be the case here?