Notes on the Election

I'm going to be way too busy working on campaigns to do any blogging for at least the next 48 hours. Before I go, I wanted to outline a couple thoughts on this year's probable outcomes and what it means for the next two years.

1. In all likelihood the GOP will take back the House. At this point I think the senate is in their grasp but they are more likely to pick up 8 seats rather than 10. Though anything can happen and certainly this is the year for it to happen. Personally disappointed I will be but devastated I will not.  History is against the incumbent president's party in mid-terms with George Bush in 2002 being the only president since FDR not to lose seats.  It's a cycle that seems to be perfectly on the normal side for this year.
    
2. Whatever the outcome, I'll say again just like I did in 2008 when the Democrats swept power, that elections are not revolutions and when you have them every two years they simply mean government is democratically controlled.  In 2008 I wrote:  "Do not treat this as a mandate for the country because it isn't. Do not treat this as a revolution because it isn't. Do not treat this as political capital because it isn't. Do not treat this as a permanent majority because it isn't. This historic event is an opportunity to serve the greatest country in the world granted to Barack Obama and his Party by the people. It is not a God-granted destiny to the DNC. This new government will have no more claim to power than the people will allow it."
   
   The same is still true today.  Republicans shouldn't take their victories as proof that God is leading them or that they will retain power forever, as they have in the past.  At most it means for the next two years the American people have put them in charge of some facet of the federal government.  Use it wisely. Take the trust the people have given to you and do what is right for America.
   
   
3. Your opposition is not the enemy.  I do not wish for Republicans to fail. That's childish, counterproductive, stupid, and only undermines our entire country.  People with that sort of mindset are the embodiment of what's wrong with this country.  The GOP really needs to stop with labeling Democrats as an enemy of America.  We are not.  Even though I oppose nearly everything the GOP stands, I in no way believe them to be an enemy that wants to destroy my country.  I know full well that if the Repubs take over the House that they will have an agenda that I personally oppose.  They will have every right to try and pursue their agenda.  That's how government operates.  That's what elections are all about.  And even though I oppose their top ticket items like privatizing Social Security and defunding the Affordable Care Act, I still do not think if they are successful that America will cease to exist.  Will it be different than I had hoped?  Sure.  But not destroyed and not ruled by an enemy occupying the government.
   
   
4. I'm actually at ease with a Republican takeover.  I'm all for oversight and have always considered a one-party government to lack the necessary oversight needed for a republic.  But if Republicans treat this as a chance to remove President Obama and continue to attack him as un-American and as having an agenda designed to destroy our country (like they did in the 90s), I wish them all the mercy in the world because 2012 will not be favorable to them.  We can't have two years of impeachment hearings.
   
   Use this unique opportunity to legislate your agenda, not your political revenge. When Democrats took over in 2006, there was not one single hearing on President Bush.  Not one single independent council.  Not one single committee to investigate the president.  Democrats focused on raising the minimum wage, expanding health care to children, on implementing the 9/11 recommendations, on expanding stem cell research.  They legislated their agenda and even allowed a historically unpopular president to do his job as well.  Revenge was at the ballot box.  And it needs to stay there.

Those are my thoughts before I depart for three days of no sleep.  Whatever happens America will be okay.  There is no end, no occupation, no enemies in charge, just people with different ideas.  This is our system of government, not a anomaly despite it.  We should be thankful we have it and that it works.  Every two years the American people get to decide who they want to run their government. This is democracy at work.  Calling it anything else just because your party didn't win is a grave injustice.