Text 8222, 128 rader
Skriven 2008-11-10 05:58:00 av TIM RICHARDSON (1:123/140)
Ärende: Obama bomb!
===================

Monday, November 10, 2008


Election reflections


by Mark Hillman


As the dust settles after Election Day, it's fair to say that
Republicans deserved the thrashing we received. Unfortunately,
some good Republicans (Colorado's Bob Schaffer, to name one) lost
undeservedly, and some embarrassments (Alaska Sen. Ted "7 Felonies
and a Bridge to Nowhere" Stevens) won undeservedly.


Only time will tell if America will get what it expects from
Barack Obama and Democrats in Congress. We know, however, that many are
destined for disappointment if only because so many expectations
of Obama are irreconcilable with each other.


Polls indicate the public still desires fiscally conservative
government and that Republicans were punished for failing to
deliver on what should be our bedrock issue. To Republicans who are
frustrated that voters would turn to the party of even-bigger
government, the message is clear: voters want contrast, not a
watered-down version of the Democrats' agenda.


There are two parties: the party of freedom and the party of
government. Democrats enthusiastically advocated government
solutions to the economy, health care, energy and poverty.


Republicans, too often, seemed unconvinced that freedom-based
solutions would work and unprepared to explain how.


For Republicans, the good news is that they can now escape the
shadow of George W. Bush, Tom Delay, et al, and that the public
now knows that Democrats are firmly in charge come what may.


For Democrats, the bad news is that they can no longer blame
everything on President Bush (although they and their media allies
will no doubt try to make Bush the Hoover to Obama's FDR) and that
they will now receive credit or blame for both things they can
control and those they cannot.


It's easy to second guess John McCain's campaign, but give credit
where it's due: at a time when as many as 91% of voters said the
country was on the wrong track and 67% disapproved of President
Bush, McCain managed to convince 46% of voters that he was better
equipped to be president than the charismatic candidate of "hope"
and "change."


Now we enter a new reality. During campaigns, the public compares
candidates to each other, but after the election, the new
president is judged against perfect 20/20 hindsight. Remember that in 2003,
more than 70% of the public, 77% of the Senate, and 68% of
Congress backed President Bush's decision to invade Iraq. The public - and
many politicians - can turn on a dime when the going gets tough,
but the president owns his decisions and their consequences.


No doubt the sycophantic media will try to help Obama to, in the
words of Chris Matthews, "make this thing work." (Funny, I don't
remember them affording that same support to President Bush.) But
sooner or later the public will expect results - falling
unemployment, rising stock prices, declining federal deficits and,
oh yes, tax cuts for 95% of us.


Had John McCain won, he would have been saddled with a recalcitrant Congress,
a media eagerly anticipating his first misstep, and the incessant hatefulness
of the far left. Moreover, Republicans would likely be dissatisfied with
McCain almost as often as not.


Which brings us to how conservatives and Republicans should treat
President-elect Obama.


The hate and scorn heaped on George W. Bush by many who disagree
with his politics is disgraceful: a movie fascinates about his
assassination, as did Gov. Steve Beshear (D-Ky.); an entire
cottage industry likens him to a chimp; and countless conspiracists "knew"
that he would declare martial law to pre-empt the election.


By most accounts of those who actually know him, President Bush is
a fundamentally decent person who has the courage to stand by his
convictions and the humility to recognize that his best often
won't be good enough.


I truly hope that in four years, we can say the same about Barack
Obama and that he conducts himself with dignity. Conservatives
will have ample opportunity to criticize his policies, but perhaps
there will be times - e.g., if he makes good on his commitment redouble
our efforts in Afghanistan - when we can show respect and support
rather than opposition for opposition's sake.


Most importantly, all Americans should resolve to keep our country,
our leaders and, especially, the president-elect and his family in
our prayers.



About The Author

Mark Hillman is a Colorado native, a farmer, "recovering journalist" and a
former Majority Leader of the Colorado Senate.







---
*Durango b301 #PE* 
 * Origin: Doc's Place BBS Fido Since 1991 docsplace.tzo.com (1:123/140)