Post Election Hangover
I stayed up late last night watching the election returns come in. Okay, late for me, midnight. I even swigged down some wine (half a glass) which for me is a big deal, given the amount of heart drugs I take, which exacerbate the effect of alcohol to the point where half a glass is like four glasses for a normal person.
I was pleased to see the Tennessee elections turned out exactly as I had hoped and all of the candidates I voted for, Corker, Campfield, Duncan and Bredesen won. I am always proud of Tennesseans who do not look to the national media to make up their minds for them and march to the beat of their own drummer. Apparently, so far Corker is the only freshman Republican Senator in the country (Hat Tip: Instapundit). Congrats to him! And how was your election night?
I was pleased to see the Tennessee elections turned out exactly as I had hoped and all of the candidates I voted for, Corker, Campfield, Duncan and Bredesen won. I am always proud of Tennesseans who do not look to the national media to make up their minds for them and march to the beat of their own drummer. Apparently, so far Corker is the only freshman Republican Senator in the country (Hat Tip: Instapundit). Congrats to him! And how was your election night?
posted by Helen at 11:16 AM
25 Comments:
My election night was peachy keen. I love blue.
I fear the political fallout. Already had somebody ask me how I voted on a Michigan proposal, and I'm fairly certain our relationship will cool. C'est la vie, it is who I am.
I was glad to see the anti race-based affirmative action proposal win in michigan. Other than that, was sad that the Dems take control of both houses. Locally, nothing else unusual happened. Incompetent incumbents got releected, so, things in Michigan and Ann Arbor will be more of the same.
While I am Republican, I think that any party that gets too much power begins to lose sight of everything except the power.
While I couldn't bring myself to vote for it, I am not really disappointed to see the shakeup.
It's not over yet in Virginia, but the predictions favor Webb by about 8,000 votes. Not what you'd call a clear mandate.
I don't mind the Dems being in charge for a while if they'll use their restored power to actually take care of the country's business and come up with a better plan for Iraq. Unfortunately, I'm afraid, it's more likely they'll bail out of Iraq so they can devote their time to avenging themselves on the the Bush administration.
Not a clear mandate?
If we're just going by the mechanics, a win's a win.
If we're looking at intangibles Webb pulled off that margin despite 26,000 votes for the Green Party. And nationally Democratic Senatorial candidates got 10 million more vote.
Seems pretty mandateful to me.
Well, I think the mandate is best measured in the country as a whole, and for me, a sad Conservative, it qualifies as a mandate.
I was running a group for sexually abused children in a neighboring county, then drove toward Nashville, stopping to meet my cigar club at Blackstone Brewery, cigar friendly and the best cask oatmeal stout I have ever had in my life. I drank two, and managed to not cry in either. I am sure many conservatives left their volunteer post for the underserved and did the same.
So it was a tough night for me, tough morning too, but not because of the stout. But I will sure not be some sour grapes whiner. Congratulations to the Democratic party, you won this one. Good luck and best wishes. I hope we beat you back in two years.
Trey
Clear in Virginia. The numbers were nearly even for most of the night, and 8,000 is the population of one small town in this state. Let's face it: this was an extremely close race. Virginia is still divided by the war and other issues.
But for the country as a whole, yeah, it's definitely a mandate. The Dems have won a chance to prove that their way is the better way. After three years of the same old thing, I'm all for some new ideas; I just don't know if the Dems have any. I'm also concerned that they'll squander their opportunity by blowing off Iraq so they can focus all their energy on political witch hunts.
The 26,000 votes for the Greens is interesting, though. Kind of a comment on both major parties, wouldn't you say?
Lousy. I know the Republicans got what they had coming to them, nationally, and I know it's a typical 6th-year, mid-term rout, but I don't have to like it. And I do not like it, because I have not lost my memory of life under Democratic control. They have no new ideas. They never do clean up their own room, when scandal hits, preferring to deny any "wrongdoing." Both parties are good at that, but the Republicans that get caught pretty quickly have to go.
I agree they will focus on revenge and predict much wailing and gnashing of teeth among those who just wanted to show the Rep's a thing or too. We will all pay dearly.
Vicki,
I agree, we will all probably pay dearly. The problem is that our society needs a "quick fix" for everything and I think when the war lasted longer than ten minutes, most Americans decided to change course and vote for those who would cut and run or withdraw as soon as possible. That said, I will be eagar to see what happens when the Democrats step up to the plate and take the country in their "new direction."
The hat tip to Instapundit put a smile on my face. I hope Glenn appreciated it.
John Nolte,
Yes, poor Glenn needs every link he can get.
As far as my election night, I was okay last night -- rather expecting it -- but it hit me this afternoon when Nancy Pelosi told Brit Hume that the war in Iraq is "not a war to be won but a situation to be solved."
You know, I think the US would be okay for a few years if we "pulled out" or "redeployed" or "deadlined," or whatever the word is liberals are using today for "lose," but I'm terrified for the Iraqi people. And I'm guessing they're taking this election harder than anyone. And no one's talking about that.
Will they be the next Cambodians?
mbiologist:
I once voted for a Democrat. I blame Diebold.
Bredesen IS a Democrat. That is the big D beside his name, Bredesen, "D." - Tennessee. It was not his first initial. You could not find that on the web? And we are suppsed to value anything you say after that? Can you grasp how foolish you appear in asking Helen if she ever supports any Democrats when Bredesen is one and you mention him by name?
So you say that the Democratic party is free of self-interest and money grubbing? Amazing. Recall that the American people voted in this "incompetent, authoritarian" executive. Twice.
So cuss, talk about how the elections Bush won were stolen, tell me how righteous the Democrats are. And we will listen to your political sagacity in spite of your not knowing that Bredesen is a Democrat and in spite of your prejudice toward Helen who is NOT a Republican.
Right.
Trey
I feel like Vicki. I expected the GOP to lose the House but I hoped they would retain the Senate. I care about the Senate because it will be impossible to get a conservative Supreme Court nominee (other than a stealth nominee, and I don't think Bush 43 will be any better at picking a stealth nominee than Bush 41 was) out of a Democrat-controlled Senate judiciary committee. However, the Republicans in Congress deserved this and President Bush should bear a large share of the blame, too.
Sometimes you have to clear the decks and start fresh. If that's what this was, then it's a good thing. Time will tell what, if any, lessons the Republicans and Democrats learned on 11/7. I hope they realize it's not just about Foley, drapes, and Rumsfeld.
The more I have thought about it today, the more faith I have in the American people to do the right thing over the long term.
Many are desperately unhappy, and others are manically happy, but both extremes seem very authoritarian in their thinking. I was appalled by Rush Limbaugh's diatribe this morning (although I often wonder whether he is simply playing to his prime demographic; he is obviously so much smarter than most of his callers). I am equally appalled by Democrats speaking of this as an opportunity to extract "revenge". If they use it thusly, they will be making a big mistake which will backfire on them in the long run.
This country has not lasted for over 230 years by allowing power to accrue uncontrolled to either party. The Republicans had lost control of themselves; the election took care of the problem. As Churchill said 50 years ago, "democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried." His words still hold true.
Graham,
I am an optimist? Not sure what you mean here.
Y'all don't say cuss? Well I'll be jiggered! Tarnation!
It is OK, we don't call "coke" pop. What does my father have to do with a coke? Even if it is an RC?
And I appologize for insulting your personhood through my linguistic regional bias. My bad, and terribly unsouthern of me as you correctly pointed out. I meant to roundly trash and dismiss your post!
Honestly and more seriously, if I had not been so miffed at the Democratic campaign against Congressman Foley, I would have again voted for Bredesen, who is indeed a Democrat. I believe that he has done a fine job and would make a wonderful presidential candidate. I am a conservative (no news flash there) but not a Republican. Bredesen is a moderate with a problem solving approach to politics. Had I not been SO angry that Democratic folks knew of Foley's garbage for months before they broadcast it (While claiming to be concerned for the children, PLEASE) I would have voted for him again.
But I may vote more straight party tickets if I continue to worry that the Democratic party has become too leftist to protect my country from invasive government or terrorists, or too cynical to speak about issues.
Because of their victory (congratulations) they have an opportunity to show me better. I am not optimistic, but I am pragmatically open to new ideas and leadership. Good luck to them, and God Bless the US of A. We need it.
Had to throw God in there to uphold my southern heritage. 8)
Trey
My election night was l-o-ong.
I am an election judge. I got up at 4:30 am, started setting up the polls at 6:00 am, opened for voting at 7:00 and closed voting at 7:00 pm. It took until 8:30 to pack everything up, and with the alternate judge, took everything to the county courthouse 25 miles away at the opposite end of the county. I finally got the ballots to the courthouse, and all the paperwork turned in by 10:45 pm. I got home at 11:15, and went straight to bed.
Up at 5:00 am the next morning (guess I drank too much coffee on the trip home), 40 minutes before the alarm was set, and put in a full day at work.
Each year I tell myself never again, but after a good night's sleep the following day (Wednesday night) I decide it was worth it.
The best part about it? You are too damn tired to care about the results one way or the other until a couple of days later. You figure the world can take care of itself.
Thanks for doing it though. That is real service to our country.
Trey
Trey - what planet are you living on?
Foley abused little boys, the Republican leadership knows about it for YEARS, say nothing, and then put the guy in charge of a committee to protect children (channel Lewis Black here), and you're mad at the DEMS?!! AAAGGHHHHH!!! (and it was the kid who stepped forward and blew the story open... not the Dems sittinng on anything... geez!)
Then, you say you don't want the Dems to bring the country "invasive government" or "terrorists" ?!?! What do you call the last six years? uh... can you say PATRIOT ACT? Can you say "16 U.S. intelligence agencies determine our actions in Iraq promoted terrorism to higher levels than pre-9/11" If you're don't want invasive government or terrorists, you really need to run as fast as you can away from the Republican Party. Better dead than red!
Well, Americans gave him a benchmark and he couldn't get'r done. Now we've given the Dems a mandate to get us out of this mess. They sure can't do any worse.
Tony
Hey Tony, I wonder what planet I am living on too occasionally, but I suspect it is for different reasons.
While I suspect that Foley did indeed abuse little boys, the proof I have seen involves totally inappropriate and creepy emails to someone who was 18. Now they are SO creepy and SO inappropriate that I assume he has perped kids. But I have not seen proof of that.
Sounds like you have seen proof of that, and have proof that the Republicans knew for years and facilitated it. Please share that proof with me, it will certainly make a difference in how I think about the situation. I have worked with child abuse survivors for 15 years, and am very evidence and proof oriented. Comes with the job.
The kid blew it open in April or May according to what I have read, and the Democrat bloggers sat on it until October. There are numerous arctiles about this on Instapundit. That is why I am angry at the Dems, it goes to the proof and evidence. And it also goes to the posturing about being concerned for the kid while sitting on the evidence for months. That burns me up. When I read that anyone else did the same, that will piss me off as well.
Funny line about better dead than red! I am uncomfortable about the Patriot act, but I am willing to accept it as a time limited tool. I think that we still need that tool, but I cannot accept it as a permanent change. So I am not happy with the party that opposed it.
We are at war, and in a war, the enemy fights back. There have indeed been more casualties since the President took the way to our enemies, but I am very thankful that these casualties are occuring on foreign soil, that the targets of the enemy fire have adequate weapons and training to protect themselves, and that we are killing our enemies every day. In Iraq. Better soldiers in Irag than civilians in New York.
My fear is that the Democrats will indeed do worse. I am so ready to be proven wrong, but time will tell. I worry that they will leave Iraq and thus turn it into a center for violence against the free world. The meetings with George McGovern of all people, strongly fuels my concerns in this area. I worry that they will increase taxes and stall our economy. Psst history of resisting making the tax cuts that helped the economy and raised revenues fuel that worry. I worry that they will increase the governmental antipathy toward Christianity. Sorry, I haven't got anything concrete on that except that the ACLU is so heavily tied to the Democratic party.
So that is the planet I live on. I hope I am delusional and you are correct. And I would appreciate the evidence concerning the Republican cover up and facilitation of Foley perpetrating minors. The thought of that offends me deeply.
Later.
Trey
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