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11/09/2006: "Winds of Change"
Politicians like to talk about voters giving them a "mandate". Tuesday, voters sent the Republican leadership something different - a "message". Confirming the worst fears of party leadership, the Democrats have taken control of the House of Representatives and are perched to assume leadership in the Senate as well. The polls said voters were looking for a change of direction; the results insure they will get their wish.
There will be much hand-wringing amongst Republican strategists in upcoming weeks, but they have no one but themselves to blame. In 1994, Republicans took control of Congress lead by Newt Gingrich and the "Contract with America". They were hungry change agents who hit the ground running to reverse the policies of forty years of Democratic congressional leadership. Twelve years later, the Republicans are bloated bureaucrats, unable or unwilling to listen to the slightest will of the people. Whether driven by pride, policy or pigheadedness, the party - and their presidential leader - have ignored the increasing gulf between their direction and the desires of the electorate. Instead of re-evaluating policies, they chose the rigid "stay the course" tact - leaving the voters only one method of making their voices heard. Of course, the pathetic string of Republican politicians driven from office by scandal certainly didn't help.
So now, the Democrats will once again hold the reins of power. The next two years will doubtless be spent trying to "un-Republican" the government as they do all they can to look different than those they replaced. The Republican party must regroup quickly and try to undo some of the self-inflicted damage they've done to the perception of the GOP. Otherwise, the most they can hope for in 2006 is good seats at the inauguration of the next President Clinton ... 
Replies: 2 Comments
On Thursday, November 9th, cynical RAv said:
judging by remarks I've seen on various fishing websites, if the next president is Clinton then the House will go back to republican control at the very first election that can do it.
I suggest folks who did not vote their usual (republican) congress person .... and some of them even voted democrat this time (!) ..... will be right back "in the fold" if Hilary gets in.
They seem to hate her with more of a passion than they ever hated Bill.
On Thursday, November 9th, Steve Mras said:
Can't say I disagree with Stan's comments.
So what do I have to look forward to? Higher taxes for one. Kiss the 15% capital gains tax good bye. No doubt my income taxes will go higher. Welcome back full on estate taxes.
Interesting outcomes from this election. It's looking like Nancy Pelosi will become speaker of the House. She's so far to the left that she doesn't even appear on the map. She is the qauintessential obstructionist as evidenced by the fact that she refused to allow our US Navy to dock in San Francisco Bay (out of fear that would increase the terrorist risk in SF) and voted against funding our troops in Iraq. I thought that she was just a sacrificial schrill that the Dems would throw under the bus once her rant had succeeded in putting the Dems back in control, but it would appear that is not the case. Pretty dumb move IMO.
Interesting that voters in California voted Gerry "Moonbeam" Brown in as Attorney General. The Attorney General is supposed to enforce the laws of the State. Last time I looked California still had the death penalty. Did we forget that Gerry Brown put in justice Rose Bird who defied the wishes of the electorate and refused to implement the death penalty, ultimately leading to her recall and to Gerry's political downslide?
Then there was all the bond initiatives that were approved. Everyone votes like it's other people's money. Yeah, it's stinging me in the wallet. Ahh, but I've got mine and can leave this high tax state anytime. Don't be surprised if more and more do the same in retirement.
