Sunday, November 26, 2006
The More Things Change. . .
Democrats retake both houses of Congress and set sights on the 2008 presidential election.
The political pendulum has once again swung, unseating those in power in a rebuke to how the situation in Iraq is deteriorating, homeland inaptitude in the handling of Katrina, and corruption a la Abramoff.
D.2.0 is mindful however, that the mid-term elections which handed the 'keys' of Congress back to the opposing party did so not because of overwhelming support but rather frustration with the status quo.
In other words, Democrats need to be mindful of the newfound power. They can no longer simply complain about Iraq but refrain from putting forward alternatives. By they I mean congressional leaders Reid and Pelosi. They should also put aside politics.
True, that last comment is like asking for a miracle for any politician. But each day they show up for work, they will balance an obligation to pass helpful legislation at the expense of improving popular perception of President Bush. Should bills start to get passed and consensus emerge, Bush too will benefit thanks to Rose Garden signing ceremonies.
So as we look back at the election that was, and the election that will be. . .Democrats who are sincere will put aside ambition and know that we the people will be smart enough to applaud it. The same holds true for the Republicans and their crop of would-be 2008 hopefuls.
The country will continue to go through political cycles as it has since its inception. Which is why this mid-term election is not politically unique. Which is why the challenges and opportunities in front of both parties are not politically unique.
Commentators would like to hype events to sustain interest. But the fact is that the mid-term election may wind up proving that the more things change, the more things really stay the same.
The political pendulum has once again swung, unseating those in power in a rebuke to how the situation in Iraq is deteriorating, homeland inaptitude in the handling of Katrina, and corruption a la Abramoff.
D.2.0 is mindful however, that the mid-term elections which handed the 'keys' of Congress back to the opposing party did so not because of overwhelming support but rather frustration with the status quo.
In other words, Democrats need to be mindful of the newfound power. They can no longer simply complain about Iraq but refrain from putting forward alternatives. By they I mean congressional leaders Reid and Pelosi. They should also put aside politics.
True, that last comment is like asking for a miracle for any politician. But each day they show up for work, they will balance an obligation to pass helpful legislation at the expense of improving popular perception of President Bush. Should bills start to get passed and consensus emerge, Bush too will benefit thanks to Rose Garden signing ceremonies.
So as we look back at the election that was, and the election that will be. . .Democrats who are sincere will put aside ambition and know that we the people will be smart enough to applaud it. The same holds true for the Republicans and their crop of would-be 2008 hopefuls.
The country will continue to go through political cycles as it has since its inception. Which is why this mid-term election is not politically unique. Which is why the challenges and opportunities in front of both parties are not politically unique.
Commentators would like to hype events to sustain interest. But the fact is that the mid-term election may wind up proving that the more things change, the more things really stay the same.
