So much of the focus of the Coffee Party has been on the corrupting influence of money in politics. And, because more times than not, expensive media products such as campaign commercials (and campaign-commercials-disguised-as-news) still decide elections, it is right to point out that on Election Day 2013, the gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia went to the candidate for whom more money was spent.

But, political advertisements would not have the impact they have on elections — and thus on policy — if our fellow citizens were not so easily manipulated by them. In 2009, the TEA Party was formed by consumers of cable television and right wing radio political advertising. During the 2012 primary, and even more alarmingly, since then, the TEA Party has seemed almost like a runaway train destined to destroy the Republican party. But the results in the two marquee governors races last night show signs of life for the mainstream wing of the Republican party, and lessons for conservatives who have recently been unsure how or whether to stand up to the party's fanatical base.

Bottom Line New Jersey: America needs Chris Christie. Gov. Chris Christie (R) is the man the Republican party needs to help them embrace, or at least acknowledge, 21st century America. Many Americans are disgusted with the hyper-partisan obstructionism of Republican media personalities and the TEA Party-dominated House of Representatives that has stalled America's economic recovery and made it impossible to meet important priorities such as job creation, immigration reform, and addressing climate change.

If the madness is to end, the Republican party needs a leader who is not going to back down "when extremists attack." On far too many issues, weak leaders like Mitt Romney and Speaker John Boehner have crumbled in the face of irrational anger and even more irrational policy coming from the far right. Until someone in the Republican party shows that it is possible to stand up to extremism, and not only survive but thrive, America will be plagued by a Republican party fueled by the darkest, most dangerous emotions this country and this planet have known.

The people of New Jersey, and the people of America appreciate Gov. Christie because he is a Republican who not only accepts and acknowledges that Barack Obama has the same right to be president as any of his predecessors, he physically embraced him and worked with him to help rebuild New Jersey after Hurricane Sandy. What ever policy differences Democrats might have with Gov. Christie, this basic acknowledgement of the legitimacy of the first black president is progress enough to engender good will. Call it a case of national Stockholm Syndrome, but we can't deny that the emotion and the gratitude is there.

Bottom Line Virginia: The TEA Party blew it for Republicans (again). Governor-Elect Terry McAuliffe (D) is not a good match for Virginia. He is a Washington insider and former DNC Chairman who has never held elected office, and only lives in Virginia because it borders Washington DC. I saw him speak in person four years ago on the same stage with Gov. Bob McDonnell (R), where it was clear to me that McDonnell was a more engaging and more talented politician. In 2009, TEA Party media products were being produced at a rate of several hours per day, but McDonnell chose to present himself as a composed, dignified conservative whose focus was on creating jobs. McDonnell won.

Four years later, fanatics in the GOP used a nominating convention to circumvent primary voters. There, party activists chose as their nominee current Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II (R) who, not only embraced the TEA Party even during its disastrous government shutdown, he is best known for supporting legislation that bans birth control and even certain sexual positions (!?!).

If Republicans had held a primary and allowed the voters to decide, the GOP candidate would have been moderate Republican Lt. Governor Bill Bolling. Bolling would have done better with women. And he would have had the financial support of wealthy Republican donors who care more about economic growth than what human beings do with their genitals. Bolling would have won handily.