Comments on the Election

I am going to have to say that I am pleased with the results of the election.

Of course, I am pleased that the Democrats obtained control of the House of Representatives. Nobody is calling the Senate yet. However, even if the Republicans keep control, the Democrats will be more secure in their power to filibuster the worst of Bush's activities.

The Theocrats suffered a number of key defeats, including Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, former Ohio Secretary of State running for Governor J. Kenneth Blackwell, and Representative John Hostettler of Indiana. All three of these had significant ties to the religious right.

I am pleased that Joe Lieberman won the Senate race from Connecticut. It’s not that I like Joe Lieberman. His support for faith-based initiatives and his statement during the 2000 Presidential campaign that a person cannot be moral without religion are certainly contemptible positions. However, I have also been worried about the power of that portion of the Democratic party that seems to be as foolish about getting the United States out of Iraq as the Bush Administration was in getting us into Iraq. Lieberman’s victory tells me that much of America rejects this branch of the Democratic party.

I am not saying that those Democrats are wrong. As I have written in the past, my position is that there is not sufficient evidence from which the average voter to draw a conclusion as to the best course of action in this war. None of us who do not have access to the top-secret reports and assessments can know what is best for the country. Just as the Bush Administration drew the rash conclusion that invading Iraq was the right thing and ignored any evidence to the contrary, this branch of Democrats are drawing rash conclusions about the benefits of withdraw and ignoring any arguments to the contrary. I am pleased to see that the bulk of the country is learning to reject rash and uninformed opinion.

I want the debate over Iraq to be carried out by people who are NOT making promises based on blind ideology and promises to voters who could not possibly have an informed opinion on the matter. I think that this is the best way to select the best policy.

I am going to be pleased to have an opportunity to to write about Democratic actions and Democratic policies.

I have been thinking recently that I have I could be comfortable among the liberal Republicans. I would really like to see the Republicans throw the theocrats out of the party.

The Republicans also need to learn and begin practicing recognition of the difference between being pro-markets and being pro-business. Too many Republicans are elected (bought and paid for) by businesses who want anti-market legislation that makes them wealther and the rest of us poorer.

With this defeat, moderate Republicans with a spine now have reason to stand up to the fringe elements and make the party more moderate - more rational.

Particularly since, as I noted above, the sound political defeat of the Theocratic wing of the Republican party.

Of course, the anti-gay amendments and referendums passed whenever they were offered. I expected this. There is still need for some social education on this nation. It is not "good news" that these measures were defeated. However, it was expected - and expected wrongs are easier to accept.

Here in Colorado, the most important measure on the ballot in this state was an Amendment that would force judges to campaign for public office. The most obvious implication of this policy is to give special interest groups power to control judgeships through campaign contributions just as they do the legislative and executive branches. That is a very poor plan. In Colorado, that measure was defeated.

Tomorrow is a new day - and a better day.