I realize that it has been a long time since I posted anything, I have been working on getting my Masters degree, which has not given me much time in which to write on this blog. I would, however, like to take this opportunity to ask the Democrats a simple question: Seriously?
Let me explain, when Senator Ted Kennedy died, his Massachusetts Senate seat was vacated, and needed to be filled by special election. Massachusetts is one of the bluest States of the Union. There is a popular Democratic President trying to push a health care bill that will improve the lives of millions of Americans and help reduce the national deficit. The Democrats had a 60 seat super-majority in the Senate and an unassailable majority in the House of Representatives. Despite this, they could not get anything passed. When the Republicans had a Senate majority, they got everything they wanted passed with very little effort (and their majority was not anything like the majority the Democrats had).
With a 60-40 majority, the Democrats could not get anything passed. This should be cause of concern anyway, but since they picked an abysmal candidate for the Massachusetts Senate seat (a candidate who spelled the name of the state incorrectly in a campaign ad) the Republican candidate came away from the special election as the victor.
When a party controls both of the houses of Congress by considerable margins and the Presidency such a result should be of little concern. So now it they only have a 59-41 majority in the Senate. Big deal. Right? Wrong. Looking at the press coverage, it is as if the Republicans have regained the majority. Democrats are panicking, saying that health care reform is dead and that they will not be able to get anything passed now.
So, I repeat the question: Seriously? This should serve as a wake up call to Democrats to stop being such pushovers. How is it that the Republicans control the political discourse even in the minority? I'm pretty sure there was a rather decisive election in November 2008 that seemed to indicate that the people wanted a change. What the Democrats have managed to do is gain the White House, the House and the Senate and yet still be dominated by the increasingly hostile, erratic and evangelical demagogues of the Republican Party. No wonder the opinion polls are slipping.
Mr. President, members of Congress: if you wish to retain power in the 2010 mid-term elections and in the 2012 Presidential election you need to actually exert some authority. You have the numbers to do it. The tea-partying right wing will call it socialism, communism and fascism whatever you do, so instead of capitulating how about you make a positive difference and say damn the accusations. You will be rewarded for it at the polls I guarantee. The way things are, you have made it so that a protest vote is for people who will do the opposite of what the people want. Is that how you want to be remembered? Think about it.
Let me explain, when Senator Ted Kennedy died, his Massachusetts Senate seat was vacated, and needed to be filled by special election. Massachusetts is one of the bluest States of the Union. There is a popular Democratic President trying to push a health care bill that will improve the lives of millions of Americans and help reduce the national deficit. The Democrats had a 60 seat super-majority in the Senate and an unassailable majority in the House of Representatives. Despite this, they could not get anything passed. When the Republicans had a Senate majority, they got everything they wanted passed with very little effort (and their majority was not anything like the majority the Democrats had).
With a 60-40 majority, the Democrats could not get anything passed. This should be cause of concern anyway, but since they picked an abysmal candidate for the Massachusetts Senate seat (a candidate who spelled the name of the state incorrectly in a campaign ad) the Republican candidate came away from the special election as the victor.
When a party controls both of the houses of Congress by considerable margins and the Presidency such a result should be of little concern. So now it they only have a 59-41 majority in the Senate. Big deal. Right? Wrong. Looking at the press coverage, it is as if the Republicans have regained the majority. Democrats are panicking, saying that health care reform is dead and that they will not be able to get anything passed now.
So, I repeat the question: Seriously? This should serve as a wake up call to Democrats to stop being such pushovers. How is it that the Republicans control the political discourse even in the minority? I'm pretty sure there was a rather decisive election in November 2008 that seemed to indicate that the people wanted a change. What the Democrats have managed to do is gain the White House, the House and the Senate and yet still be dominated by the increasingly hostile, erratic and evangelical demagogues of the Republican Party. No wonder the opinion polls are slipping.
Mr. President, members of Congress: if you wish to retain power in the 2010 mid-term elections and in the 2012 Presidential election you need to actually exert some authority. You have the numbers to do it. The tea-partying right wing will call it socialism, communism and fascism whatever you do, so instead of capitulating how about you make a positive difference and say damn the accusations. You will be rewarded for it at the polls I guarantee. The way things are, you have made it so that a protest vote is for people who will do the opposite of what the people want. Is that how you want to be remembered? Think about it.
