The Morning After

The mainstream press is in a jubilant mood this morning as yesterday’s elections saw their favorites take the House and possibly the Senate. I suspect that many private citizens are happy and hopeful as well, expecting the Democrats to fix all the “messes,” most notably Iraq, that the Republicans have made. To both I would offer a word of caution.

The Democrats will soon find that it is easier to be a critical minority than a constructive majority. Does anyone remember the Republican “Contract with America”? How many of those initiatives came to pass? Democrats have done an excellent job whining and complaining about the political state of our country and a slight majority of voters agree with them. However, I have not seen little coherent talk from the Democratic leadership regarding either domestic or international policy. They have offered no concrete plan for Iraq, have stuck their heads in the sand about illegal immigration and have no clue how to fix Social Security or balance the budget.

I’m not saying that Republicans have all the answers either; I certainly have not been happy with their actions, especially in Iraq. Nor am I rooting for the Democrats to fail. What I am suggesting is that the time for empty, easy words is over. The ball is squarely in the Democrat’s court and its time for them to show us that they’ve got game. I remain skeptical that they do. In winning this year’s election battle, they may very well have lost the presidential war. Two years from now, will people really want to elect a Democrat president when they will have proven themselves inept in Congress?

One other note. Several Republicans went down yesterday because of their links to serious political and ethical scandals. Couple that with the unfortunate downfall of conservative Christian leaders in recent weeks, and it is no surprise that the remnants of the 80s and 90s “Moral Majority,” are licking their wounds this morning. However, I believe that the Republican party took so much heat over its ethical and moral shortcomings precisely because it has long been the party that has identified itself with a strong ethical and moral base (comprised primarily of Christians).

Democrats tend to get off easier in this regard because the country has become so accustomed to shady characters and corrupt practices pervading the Democrat camp. To be fair, there are plenty of honest, God-fearing, ethical and moral Democrats, just as there are plenty of corrupt Republicans. However, Democrats have been largely unsuccessful in aligning their vision and their causes with the ethics and morals of the American people. They win votes by playing to people’s fears and offering a handout to anyone who asks for one. Now that they have rejoiced in the downfall of their brothers and sisters across the aisle, the Democrats had better start looking at themselves. They’ve promised us reform and a new vision, a more honest democracy. Let us see if we shall get it! I’m not holding my breath...