No matter what happens in the election, by that I mean the scope and depth of victory...

It will be much better than it was but never as perfect as we all hope...

It is the nature of the beast.

Obama and the democratically controlled House and Senate are not going to be anything like the republican lock-step governments we came to expect from the likes of Bush, Lott and Cheney. I would hope that most people understand that the Democrats will value the hopes and dreams of the individual members of their ruling party and will encourage a dynamic that has been missing in Washington since Newt Gingrich spewed his hate-filled politics on the scene in 1992.

Having said that, if Obama captures more than 55% of the popular vote, there will be many stunned but very happy newly elected democrats with an understanding of the true meaning of coattail. They will be eager to please the new president. Obama will be granted unprecedented cooperation to implement his economic and foreign policy agendas but not a mandate to implement retribution.

It does not mean an immediate suspension of the Iraqi War. We are mired there for at least another year and probably more. Be prepared for that.

It also does not mean he will let the crimes of the past Administration go unpunished. It simply is what it is. He will unleash his Attorney General to punish those who deserve to be punished in a measured way.

It also does not mean he will be free to implement health care reform since reigning in the national debt and the financial crisis will be number one priorities.

It does mean he will take the fight to the terrorists in a sane, unemotional manner that will expose terrorists for what they truly are; thugs and criminals and not the international Bond-like villains GWB portrayed them to be.

It does mean Obama will play smack down to any cutesy bullshit the republicans may try after inauguration. All the various "gates" they will try to shove into the national zeitgeist will be closed before any real political damage occurs.

It does suggest that the people, all the people, will start to have an appreciation of government that they have not embraced since JFK spoke to the duty American's have for the privilege of being American. They will be somewhat awed and greatly inspired by the sheer historic nature of Obama's election.

What I am saying is simple; we need to give him time and our encouragement even though we do not support 100% everything he HAS to do. We need to put his victory in perspective given the moral, ethical and financial crisis the last ruling party has bequeathed our county.

No, we won't be living in a Liberal Shangri-La, but we will be working together again for a common good that lifts all American's to new heights without trampling on the hopes and dreams of the opposition partisans. In other words; leadership.

K&R

:patriot: