Where the Republicans Went Wrong...in my opinion
I'm sitting here at my desk at 1:00 AM on November 5. I'm actually working with some of my other SA's...BUT...they're doing most of the work so I find myself just sitting here and thinking about tonight's election...and where I believe it went wrong.
I know this will run the risk of offending some really good people I've been blessed to reconnect with...but the fact is I think that Obama wasn't the right call. I think he's a media darling...I think that CNN and the networks and Oprah decided to back someone...and a media hungry country ate it up. All because we bought into the whole "Bush sucks".
Problem is...Bush DOES suck. I don't think he's a bad person, and I'm sure he's been through a lot...but he's a weakling. He's been led by his father and father's former playmates to play house at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. He wasn't a strong leader, and I'd dare say the worst president we've had in the last 100 years.
That being said I think what Obama represented was a 'slingshot effect'...that meaning someone pulled the slingshot all the way back and let it go...so now America feels what's right is the other end of the slingshot. That may not be the case.
In my opinion...Obama represents everything I stand against...Abortion, Death Penalty, Same-Sex Marriage, Social programs, free health care, gun control...all of these are platforms where I look at him and cannot agree with him. Now he has a Senate and House who do. Changes are coming...there is NO way around it.
The thing is...why I think America voted for him, and where the republicans went wrong...was they decided to try and beat him at his own game. McCain wasn't different enough from Obama to represent a CLEAR CUT choice. He's a very moderate moderate. While he's voted with Bush 90% of the time...there are plenty of other senators and party politicians who vote with THEIR party 100% of the time.
What the Republicans need to do (in my opinion) is define WHO they are. What do they stand for? Then live and DIE by that. If you lose an election because you're too republican...that may be a good thing. Because the fact is...history has shown the last 50 years that except for Kennedy and Clinton...Democrats don't stay in office long. They tend to fall apart due to the idea of socialized programs, lower moral values, and a weaker foreign policy.
However...one thing to remember. We're Americans. Obama is now our leader. We need to get behind him. We need to support him. His failures are our failures. His success is our success. I hope beyond hope he doesn't do what I think he will. I hope he'll find a way to moderate himself and edge more toward the middle. I pray he can restore some sense of rudder to this ship that has been without one for so long.
I'm not moving to Canada, I'm not going to pout. I'm not going to sit here and bitch and moan about it. I'm going to remember that I live in the GREATEST COUNTRY EVER! I need to get over my own self-importance and realize that it's time to get in line. In four years...I'll vote where I think things stand (though it won't count if I'm not a democrat...I live in New York...so eh)...and I"ll do my best to vote the senators and representatives I think should be there.
I encourage all Democrats to be graceful in Victory...and Republicans to remember that defeat was inevitable given who we elected 8 years ago. We've been spanked and we need to take our medicine. Things will bounce back...and we can make a difference...
Just not today.
Thanks for reading;
I know this will run the risk of offending some really good people I've been blessed to reconnect with...but the fact is I think that Obama wasn't the right call. I think he's a media darling...I think that CNN and the networks and Oprah decided to back someone...and a media hungry country ate it up. All because we bought into the whole "Bush sucks".
Problem is...Bush DOES suck. I don't think he's a bad person, and I'm sure he's been through a lot...but he's a weakling. He's been led by his father and father's former playmates to play house at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. He wasn't a strong leader, and I'd dare say the worst president we've had in the last 100 years.
That being said I think what Obama represented was a 'slingshot effect'...that meaning someone pulled the slingshot all the way back and let it go...so now America feels what's right is the other end of the slingshot. That may not be the case.
In my opinion...Obama represents everything I stand against...Abortion, Death Penalty, Same-Sex Marriage, Social programs, free health care, gun control...all of these are platforms where I look at him and cannot agree with him. Now he has a Senate and House who do. Changes are coming...there is NO way around it.
The thing is...why I think America voted for him, and where the republicans went wrong...was they decided to try and beat him at his own game. McCain wasn't different enough from Obama to represent a CLEAR CUT choice. He's a very moderate moderate. While he's voted with Bush 90% of the time...there are plenty of other senators and party politicians who vote with THEIR party 100% of the time.
What the Republicans need to do (in my opinion) is define WHO they are. What do they stand for? Then live and DIE by that. If you lose an election because you're too republican...that may be a good thing. Because the fact is...history has shown the last 50 years that except for Kennedy and Clinton...Democrats don't stay in office long. They tend to fall apart due to the idea of socialized programs, lower moral values, and a weaker foreign policy.
However...one thing to remember. We're Americans. Obama is now our leader. We need to get behind him. We need to support him. His failures are our failures. His success is our success. I hope beyond hope he doesn't do what I think he will. I hope he'll find a way to moderate himself and edge more toward the middle. I pray he can restore some sense of rudder to this ship that has been without one for so long.
I'm not moving to Canada, I'm not going to pout. I'm not going to sit here and bitch and moan about it. I'm going to remember that I live in the GREATEST COUNTRY EVER! I need to get over my own self-importance and realize that it's time to get in line. In four years...I'll vote where I think things stand (though it won't count if I'm not a democrat...I live in New York...so eh)...and I"ll do my best to vote the senators and representatives I think should be there.
I encourage all Democrats to be graceful in Victory...and Republicans to remember that defeat was inevitable given who we elected 8 years ago. We've been spanked and we need to take our medicine. Things will bounce back...and we can make a difference...
Just not today.
Thanks for reading;
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