Republicans swept to victory in the House but failed to take control of the Senate; however, Democrats did lose several key House seats and also lost the majority in terms of governorships.

Republicans now control 239 seats in the House compared to 183 for Democrats. In the Senate, Democrats maintain a slight majority with 51 seats to Republicans' 46.

Americans, devastated by this country's financial crisis, took their anger out on the party in charge. Polls show 62 percent of voters said the economy was the major factor in their vote, but it's ironic that the party they elected is the one who helped get the country into its current malaise.

It's also ironic that some of President Barack Obama's policies have helped keep this country afloat during its most difficult financial crisis since the Great Depression. The stimulus that Tea Party Republicans complained about helped extend unemployment for two years and helped major car companies stay open, saving thousands of jobs.

The deficit was expanded as efforts were made to keep Americans afloat and some of the defense spending on the Iraq war was lessened as tens of thousands of troops were brought home.

But none of that seemed to matter.

The Republican victory symbolized a repudiation of President Obama's policies, but this loss may not be bad for Democrats as the 2012 presidential election approaches.

Now that Republicans have more say so, they can no longer simply point the finger. They have to propose and enact policies that will live up to their crazy campaign promises to cut spending while making things better for Americans. If deficit spending is the source of all of America's problems as some Tea Party Republicans seem to think, let's see what happens when programs that are helping Americans during these tough times are cut.

America asked for some of these extreme right wing politicians and they woke up this morning with their wishes fulfilled. Now the question is what will the Republican agenda be? Clearly, many people are scared.

Harlem Democrat Charlie Rangel is one of those people. Despite an upcoming ethics trial, Rangel was overwhelmingly re-elected to a 21st term in his Harlem district last night.

Almost immediately afterward, his thoughts turned to national politics:"It has not been one of the best days for our Congress or our country," Rangel told Aol. Black Voices during his victory speech.

The country could be headed for difficult times if there is not at least a spirit of cooperation.

"If the Republicans want to move forward with cooperation with the president then I assume that compromises would have to be made on both sides on the aisle, then we can move forward. But if as has been reported, the next two years is to bring down the President of the United States, then they do that at the expense of of our country," Rangel said.

Comments like those from Sarah Palin, the former Republican vice-presidential candidate and governor of Alaska, do not inspire a lot of confidence:

"The GOP has to understand, that machine has to understand, we are not sending Republicans, common sense conservatives, to D.C. to sing 'kumbaya' with Obama, we're sending them to stop Obama!" Palin said.

These types of comments worry Rangel:

"It's going to be embarrassing to the Congress and the United States. There's some very strange people that's in this mix. And it sure lends itself to a theory of conspiracy just based on a standard minimum of who should be thinking about running for public office," Rangel said.

Voters elected Kentucky Tea Party Republican Rand Paul who actually said that it was okay for owners of hotels and restaurants to deny people services based on race. Their rights as a property owner, Rand said, outweighed the civil right of those being blatantly discriminated against.

I don't know about you, but comments like these make me nervous. Those comments also make me wonder why young and minority voters did not come out in larger numbers?

Former New York City Mayor David Dinkins expressed a similar concern last night:

"Conservative Republicans and Tea Party people are frightening, frankly," Dinkins told Aol. Black Voices.

For African-Americans and Latinos, last night's elections could mean difficult times ahead, Angela Glover Blackwell, Founder & CEO of PolicyLink, a national research and action institute advancing economic and social equity through policy solutions, told Aol. BlackVoices.

"So what do the results mean for Black and Latino Americans? These are the communities hit first and worst by the recession. To compete in the 21st century economy, we have to create a nation where all people are enlisted and empowered to push our economy forward," Blackwell said.

"Last night's election doesn't change the reality of America's future – and without a focus on equity, that future is bleak, no matter who's in office," she added. "Just as our physical infrastructure is crumbling, so is our community infrastructure – the people and places that make America. We need investments in health and housing and education that strengthen all of our communities, especially the ones that have been left behind for decades."

But that seems to be the exact opposite of what Republicans have planned. We can expect portions of the health care law, parts of the bill that help regular Americans, be challenged. The same can be said of financial reform. Many believe it was the legislatively aided recklessness and greed of our financial institutions that almost help collapse our economy in 2008.

And then there is the constant drone about tax cuts. Economists have repeatedly said that tax cuts to the wealthy do not benefit the economy. Trickle down economics has long been proven to be a false theory that only benefits the rich. Why aren't Republicans, who keep moaning about the deficit, worried about how a tax cut for the wealthy will affect our deficit?

The other option is the type of gridlock that led to a government shutdown not so long ago.

"Simply put, equity is the superior growth model. I hope our leaders in Congress – new and experienced – remember that," Blackwell said.

Even Rangel's Republican opponent said he was concerned about how his party might govern.

Michel Faulkner, a former NFL player and minister, called the Republican takeover of the House a good thing "provided we get some Republican leadership that is responsible and not in a retaliatory mode."

"You can't hurt Barack Obama without hurting the country. Hamstringing the president only hurts all of us," said Faulkner.

Maybe this is a guy Republicans should listen to.