It's Time For The Republicans To Get Serious

Not long before the elections Rush Limbaugh declared that no one but he would decide whether or not Christine O'Donnell was electable. He then touted her conservative tenor. Guess what. He was wrong. So was Sarah Palin using the same criteria. This is where the pundits do a disservice to the voters. They treat it like a game. It isn't. The welfare of the country depends on who we put in office.

Fortunately there are those among the ranks of the Republicans who recognize the game for what it is and speak out. Of course they get royally trounced. Like Carl Rove. Never known to soft pedal anything, he did back off his criticism of O'Donnell, though not completely. He's now back to trying to dispel the myth of Sarah Palin as Superwoman. He's still getting trounced. I hope it emboldens rather than dissuades him.

Kathleen Parker hit the nail on the head when she labeled Ms. Palin as dangerous. She of little substance and a surplus of words. None of which, I'd be willing to bet, are actually hers. The worry is she is already running a campaign on Facebook and Twitter.

Two things need to happen soon. The Tea Party has to define itself by deciding if they want to be folded into the Republican party or stand on their own merit. Otherwise they will continue to send mixed messages which will lead to their being inconsequential. They also need to get real about who they support.

This is the coy season that always precedes presidential primaries. Potential candidates have to be careful what they say so as to not lose their lucrative gigs too soon. It's a good time to look at them and eliminate those we know cannot win - like Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich, among others. It's really, really important because there isn't much to choose from at this point and the traits that make many of them dubious are traits not easily overcome.

We elected one rock star who was short on experience going in. We overlooked everything important, instead focusing on a pleasing personality and wishful thinking. Can we afford to do it again? You know what I think.

A Politician I Can Identify With ~ Maybe

Remember in the Obama/Clinton campaign when Hillary was sitting and chatting with a group of supporters, mostly women, and her voice cracked and her eyes teared? Her polls surged. She had, even though unintentionally, shown the human side of herself. Had she done it more often I think she may have won.

Remember too how the boomers wanted men to be more like women? Softer. Sensitive. More open with their feelings? Now it appears we may have one about to become the new Speaker of the House, John Boehner . I rather like seeing that in a man. One who can tear up over the Star Spangled Banner or even just from watching a sentimental movie. Of all things that can make a politician 'one of us' I think a genuine display of sentimentality just might be it. Forget the beer and bowling shtick.

Think about Ronald Reagan, whether you liked him or not. He knew how to feel the pulse of the people and show empathy. Bill Clinton did much the same with his "feeling your pain". We haven't seen much lately. It seems more of a chilly detachment in the President. Harry Reid seems detached too, or maybe just not in the present. That appearance can come with aging. Nancy Pelosi. Does she take over the 'Queen of Mean' title from the late Leona Helmsley?

I have a theory. When Mr. Boehner tears up over a subject I'll bet I'll be inclined to agree with his thinking. I know heartfelt when I see it. I'm an expert. All you have to do is see my Kleenex bill.

We Have Come To Fear "Fear Itself"

Juan Williams, news analyst for oh so politically correct National Public Radio, lost his job for saying on the Bill O'Reilly show that when he's in an airport and sees people dressed in Muslim garb he's uncomfortable. By firing him, NPR was not only being politically correct, they were placating the very ones Mr. Williams, and a good many of the rest of us, fears. Fear.

When our President travels with what could be a small town, mostly security, is it not out of fear? Especially when they go to such lengths as to build a portable, air conditioned tunnel for his armored limousine to travel through? That coconuts have to be stripped from the trees? Fear.

If we want to fly we're subjected to the equivalent of being strip searched or suffer over the top groping if you opt out. Out of fear. Of what? Certainly not me nor most of my fellow travellers. Fear.

The ultimate, however, is a state Oklahoma passing a constitutional amendment to prohibit state courts from considering international or Islamic law when deciding a case! It was approved by 70% of the voters.

Oklahoma is hardly a bastion of Muslim activity and the consideration of Islamic law has never been an issue. It was a preemptive act. Fear. Real fear.

I should think it shouldn't even be on any one's radar. I should like to think we are a nation of laws. Our laws. Those laws and those alone are upon which judgements are made. Do we really have to fear that is not the case?

That the lawsuit to halt it was brought by a Muslim does not surprise me. That his reasoning is that is stigmatises his religion makes no sense other then that his religion and his law are one and the same. His law, however, is not our law nor will it ever be. We don't sever limbs for stealing nor lash women for talking to an unrelated man nor stone women to death for shaky accusations of adultery. If we did Hollywood would cease to exist!

Snide remarks aside, this epidemic of fear needs to be cured and fast. We don't need our leaders telling us how afraid we are or should be of one another what's more the rest of the world.

Fear. Running rampant in the once proud, eminently strong United States of America. Fear. Don't let it become our self-fulfilling prophecy!

Two Down, One to Go ~ Harry Reid

It sure didn't take long for the Democrats to stake their position for the next congressional session. The President has stated that the loss of so many seats was a failure to communicate on his part. I wonder if that's a polite way of telling us how dense we are!

Today Nancy Pelosi has said she's been persuaded to run for House minority leader. That their accomplishments were too important for America to be repealed or amended. Here is one of the most pugnacious Speakers the House has ever had. Not to mention disliked.

The next question is whether or not Harry Reid will remain as Senate Majority Leader. I should imagine so though Chuck Schumer is nipping at his heels.

This does not indicate to me there will be much across the aisle compromise. The only mystery that remains is how the Republicans are going to comport themselves. In the last few days we've seen that both the House and Senate leaders are of a more clement nature than their Democratic counterparts. We've also seen that both can show a great deal of resolve in stating their goals. It's sure a contrast in styles! Beware an iron fist in the velvet glove!

Only two full days have passed since the election. What do I see? Pretty much business as usual. It won't be pretty.

Post Election Morning ~ After Glow Or Hang Over?

For me it's a little of both along with a smidge of wariness. I'm sorry our Blue Dog lost. He is a rarity in Washington. A man who will buck the powers that be if he thinks they're wrong. I'm sorry Carly Fiorina and Meg Whitman lost. We lived in California when Jerry Brown was Governor, Governor Moonbeam. It's difficult to understand why Californians would do it again considering his record since. I doubt, anyway, he will be able to govern California any better than his predecessors. I'm sorry Linda McMahon lost. Maybe just because I knew her ages ago when we lived in Hartford and she was a tennis partner.

On a different note, I hope the Tea Party people and those who voted for their more personally extreme candidates have learned a lesson. Look at the whole person, not just what comes out of their mouth. Rand Paul probably would not have won had his father not been Ron. O'Donnell ~ what can I say. A winnable seat lost because the establishment candidate was a moderate. Probably the worst reason to not vote for someone. Sharon Angle? More of the same. It's time to realize the the reigning princess of the air waves, Sarah Palin, shoots from the lip with her endorsements. Be more careful next time around! If Murkowski pulls out Alaska it's not bad. She's a moderate. Forget about the Palin vendetta!

As to where I'm wary. I listened to both Boehner and Obama this morning. They both have "My Way" as their theme song. Obama seems to think our frustration is all about the economy. He's wrong. It's about his entire agenda. I expect no non-partisanship from him. Nor from the Republicans. Hopefully, however, they're at least wise enough not to follow the pundits advice to give no quarter. They, the pundits, definitely haven't learned.

I fear we'll see too many extremists on both sides of the aisle and a lot of deadlocks. That may be good if it means no more forcing legislation down our throats. It's bad if it means nothing gets done. Then we'll suffer through the blame game again.

The next few days will be interesting. Obama is off to the G-8/20 summit in Seoul by way of India and Indonesia. He has no business to attend to in India nor Indonesia, just Seoul. If the rumors are true about his booking 500 hotel rooms and having an entourage of 3000 you hope the numbers are an exaggeration by some malcontents. If it's true, be sure he didn't hear the message from the voters. Perhaps he needs a hearing aide! Or czar.

It's not just the economy.