Just a Few Thoughts

Wow. SO much to read, and I’ve come to the conclusion that I just can’t absorb it all…not today, anyway. But there’s absolutely no disputing the fact that “we live in interesting times.”

Right off the bat I’ll say this: the Republicans did not deserve to win, period. Their track record over the past two years has been abysmal, particularly in the House. The only bright spots I’ve seen over the past two years have been the confirmation of Justices Roberts and Alito, the renewal (of sorts) of the PATRIOT Act, and the recent legislation concerning GWOT detainees. And that last success depends entirely on the law surviving the inevitable court challenges. Should the Supreme Court strike that law down, the Congress, as it appears to be constituted after last night, won’t go back to the drawing board to craft something in the same vein. So much for accomplishments. Missed opportunities are legion, from Social Security, to immigration, to ethics reform, to curbing pork-barrel politics…specifically, earmarks. ALL of those missed opportunities should have been no-brainers for a party that supposedly espouses limited government, “values,” and fiscal responsibility. And there are a lot more missed opportunities, but I don’t have either the time or the inclination to list them.

I think I’ve made my position clear—for what that’s worth—over the past six months or so. I’ve not been impressed with the Republican Party as it’s currently constituted in the Congress—and I exempt Dubya on that account, for the most part. I think the President could have/should have exercised more leadership to get the Republican congress back on track. But, he did not. Water under the bridge, and all that. Yet, still and even, I swallowed my distaste and voted for the bastards Republican candidates, because I felt there was no alternative. Apparently there weren’t enough people in America with views similar to mine. The results speak to that fact.

Now here’s the kicker: I’m beginning to believe a theory I rejected out of hand some six to eight months ago. The loss just might be a “good thing.” America now has two years to watch the Democrats in action. The Republicans have two years to purge the leadership and get back to the roots of small-government conservatism. Yes, there is potential for the congressional Democrats to do some damage, but I think the potential is small, realistically. We won’t be pulling out of Iraq tomorrow, next month, or even next year, and that’s where the greatest danger lies. If the Democrats win control of the Senate, you just might see some Liberal Supreme Court justices retire…but Dubya will still appoint their successors. There’s some danger, there, yes. But, once again, Dubya holds the cards. That scenario will be most interesting, should it occur.

Already there’s some dissension visible in the Democrat ranks. The ultra-libs, aka the “Progressives,” are at war with the centrists. That rift was visible during the campaign, but it’s louder now that the election is over and will get louder still, as time moves on. The Progressives aren’t interested in bi-partisan politics; they want their pound of flesh. They want investigations. Some want impeachment proceedings. Some of the Lefty blogs I read today are VERY strident on that point. I don’t believe the Ultra-Lefties will get their way because, ultimately, Pelosi and Reid are politicians first and foremost. They won’t cut off their noses to spite their face. Unless, of course, they want to lose the next election, which is far more important than the one we just went through.

Interesting times, indeed.