A lot of my liberal friends are despairing now; what with the election results. Personally, I’m actually not too worried. These things go in cycles. I remember back in 2002 the Republicans thought they had a “permanent majority”. Four years later they were all voted out in disgrace. (I exaggerate, but only a bit).
To an extent, this was a referendum on people’s dissatisfaction with the Obama administration, but more than anything else, I think people have a tendency to think “things are not great right now; let’s vote some other guys in.” In two or four years, when things are still not perfect, people will get sick of Republicans and vote the Democrats in.
Liberal ballot initiatives, like raising the minimum wage, actually passed even as Republicans won. That tells me people are more generally discontented with the status quo than they are mad at one party or excited about the other.
Of course, I suppose the fact that people are relying on either of the parties to fix the nation’s problems, when the past strongly suggests they can’t, is cause for despair. So, ok; carry on despairing. Forget I said anything.
Oh, I will. I will. Why is it so hard for us (US peoples) to accept new ideas? We just keep choosing the same bad habits. Sigh…
It was heartening to see people voted for a higher minimum wage.
It’s frustrating; that’s for sure. But, in the words of Israeli politician Abba Eban (not Churchill–though people attribute it to him): “History teaches us that men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives.”
All indicators show the economy and unemployment are better, but the media keep saying it’s worse, and the dems running for office shunned Obama. They’ve turned him into a toxic name brand.
Another quote comes to mind: “A liberal is somebody who won’t take his own side in an argument”.
Almost every two-term President is unpopular by this point in his second term; people just get tired of him, no matter who he is or what he’s done. But I don’t get why the Democrats think buying into the Republicans’ line about his Presidency being a disaster is a good idea. I guess they want to try starting anew and making themselves seem to be something more than the Party of Obama, but it reminds me of how Gore distanced himself from Clinton in the 2000 election, and we all know how that worked out.
Exactly. The Republicans had good reason to shun W in 2008, but the dems were just scared of their own shadow here. In New Mexico it was really about the money. Governor Martinez set up a 4 million dollar war chest courtesy of the Koch brothers and spread it around to the other candidates. She still outspent her opponent 7-1.
The Repugs know negative campaigning keeps voter turn out low and that’s how they win.