THE NIGHT THEY DROVE DICK LUGAR DOWN:

Even in defeat, Lugar — attacking Mourdock’s “partisan mindset” — sounds as if he believes that Senate seat belongs to him.

Tonight he was reminded that it doesn’t. The accolades rolling in from Kerry and President Obama (whose press shop released a statement on Lugar’s “retirement) are an example of why Republicans voted against him. The quote of the night belongs to Hoosier conservative activist Greg Fettig: “The message to the establishment is, ‘You’re our servants. We’re the masters. Do what you’re supposed to do, adhere to the Constitution or we’ll fire you.'”

RELATED: “The more victories the Tea Party racks up, the greater the chance that Romney will be forced to govern as a limited government conservative if elected, even if his natural inclination is to migrate to the left.”