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Thoughts on the 2008 Election 11/5/08 5:39 PM
Well, it seems that We the People have chosen our new leader. A majority of the American people believe that Barack Obama is the right man to guide us through the next four years, and I hope they're right.
I find it rather odd that no one seems to be complaining about the election being stolen or fixed, like we heard ad nauseum the last two times we did this. Maybe this is because of the margin of victory; maybe the noisy ones hated George W. Bush so much that they couldn't handle the idea that he was fairly elected; maybe they were just sore losers; or perhaps a combination of all three.
I also contemplate our return to one-party rule after putting an end to it just two years ago. Recent experience has shown that putting the White House and both houses of Congress all in the hands of one party is not a good idea, as the ruling party assumes carte blanche to do whatever they feel like. In 1992, we put the Democrats in charge of all three houses, and they gave us higher taxes and tried to socialize our health care system. The voters were so angry about this that the 1994 election saw the Republicans take over both houses of Congress for the first time since the Eisenhower administration.
I'm not trying to suggest that the Republicans have done better in the same position. In 2002, we put the Republicans in absolute control, and they gave us war in Iraq and more out-of-control spending. This time, it took four years to rein in the ruling party, as the Democrats didn't take back Congress until 2006. (NOTE: The Republicans actually were voted into total power in 2000, but the defection of Sen. Jeffords in a 50-50 Senate in May 2001 scuttled that. It was in 2002 that the voters made their intentions completely clear there.)
Given this track record, what makes us think that it will be different this time? Will President-elect Obama truly change things, or was it all campaign rhetoric? I'm turning comments on for this entry, but I'm not entirely sure it's a good idea. Feel free to leave your honest opinion, but please don't abuse it.
As always, take care and good luck!
I find it rather odd that no one seems to be complaining about the election being stolen or fixed, like we heard ad nauseum the last two times we did this. Maybe this is because of the margin of victory; maybe the noisy ones hated George W. Bush so much that they couldn't handle the idea that he was fairly elected; maybe they were just sore losers; or perhaps a combination of all three.
I also contemplate our return to one-party rule after putting an end to it just two years ago. Recent experience has shown that putting the White House and both houses of Congress all in the hands of one party is not a good idea, as the ruling party assumes carte blanche to do whatever they feel like. In 1992, we put the Democrats in charge of all three houses, and they gave us higher taxes and tried to socialize our health care system. The voters were so angry about this that the 1994 election saw the Republicans take over both houses of Congress for the first time since the Eisenhower administration.
I'm not trying to suggest that the Republicans have done better in the same position. In 2002, we put the Republicans in absolute control, and they gave us war in Iraq and more out-of-control spending. This time, it took four years to rein in the ruling party, as the Democrats didn't take back Congress until 2006. (NOTE: The Republicans actually were voted into total power in 2000, but the defection of Sen. Jeffords in a 50-50 Senate in May 2001 scuttled that. It was in 2002 that the voters made their intentions completely clear there.)
Given this track record, what makes us think that it will be different this time? Will President-elect Obama truly change things, or was it all campaign rhetoric? I'm turning comments on for this entry, but I'm not entirely sure it's a good idea. Feel free to leave your honest opinion, but please don't abuse it.
As always, take care and good luck!
I myself voted for Obama; and with good cause. I have never seen this country in such poor demise since the Republicans took control. And I will say this, the best times economically for us was when Clinton was in power. I truly hope for a recovery here. And I truly hope Obama will back his word
As do I. I think the administration gets too much credit or blame for the economy, no matter who's in charge. The government doesn't tell us how much money we can or should spend, other than by taking some of our income in taxes.
kfm, I agree. I'm a little too touchy today & I apoligize. It was kinda hard being a non-McCain voter today in Texas & I had to hear the "Osama Obama" rhyme a couple dozen times. Caty
Yeah, it's kinda childish, isn't it? I don't have to go through heckling like that, as I live in a "swing" state, albeit one that hasn't been red in 20 years...
more than 2 major parties could be a good thing or bad. Another party could throw the balance back to one side or the other? And the similarity comment os a joke been around for a while now. Don't see why so many get upset so quick about it.
Good point, and the Perot and Nader campaigns illustrate it. It would be very difficult and take a long time to bring a third party up to the level of the other two, and until it reached that level, it would simply skew elections the way Perot did in '92 and Nader in 2000.
Thanks for being a voice of reason on the Fool's blog. I was right there with ya until the "name similarity" remark in response to a comment below.I rejected the Repub party because of exactly things like that. Yes, optimism feels better than fear & bullying. Peace! Caty
That was a joke, just as I took his comment about frozen chips ;)
This in the end my friend is why we have both parties. To keep it even in the end. We will always need both parties. We will always have things we will never know also. Mabye these things would cause total chaos if people did know ??? ♣♣♣ Karl
Some think we need more than just two major parties, and I'm not sure I disagree with them...
Seeing as you have to have a president what's it matter if people think it will change or not? If it doesn't, well he's just the same as the rest, if he does then sound the fanfares and watch the USA rise tall again. Anyway, would you really have a president with the same name as frozen chips?!?! :)
I think that's why we elected the guy whose name is just one letter different from a terrorist's :D Maybe things will change, maybe they won't. Optimism is a good feeling though.