We win even bigger in '08 by paying attention

The voters TOLD us why they threw the bums out.

Iraq
Corruption
Middle-class discontent

Not always in that order.

If we are to hold what we won and gain, we better hope that congress resists the temptation to "become" that which they replaced.

Voters told us that they wanted clean government, so if Pelosi (or any of the others) know of impending scandals or improprieties of dems, they better get in front of it and address it.

The worst thing that could happen would be for US to start pushing the "bloody shirt" issues that are radioactive.

Immigration issues are only really important when the economy is bad. Do you remember immigration being such a nightmare issue during the 90's? Nope. People had their choice of jobs back then and did not feel threatened.

People get "pissy" when their own livelihoods are threatened. When Dad's got a good job, he's not all that interested in what jobs the immigrants are working. It's only when Dad loses his job, or never gets a raise, or sees his job being sent overseas, that he starts worrying about "those people" taking his job.

Dad probably does not trim palm trees or babysit, or wash dishes, but he recognizes that HIS job is in jeopardy when he starts to hear about "those people" taking jobs.

Corruption plays a part in ALL the issues voters voted on. It's the BASE of the pyramid scheme. The legislators do the bidding of the corporations, in exchange for campaign money..The corporations pay-to-play so they can pay employees less and less...so they can keep more and more profit.

Campaign finance reform..REAL reform should be a MAJOR undertaking of this new congress

Election reform....REAL reform would give people the satisfaction that WHEN they speak, their voice would be heard

Media reform...REAL reform would guarantee that ALL sides of issues get equal coverage, so that when people vote, they have more than spun anecdotal "information" about issues

Unfortunately, Iraq has no easy resolution. To do the right thing, would be something this administration would never do. That would be to go on national television and admit that WE were mistaken, and to offer a course correction that they would never do.

I am afraid that all we can hope for is a gradual release of the country we tried to grab, and to just hope for the best after the eventual civil war.

Our elected officials MUST remain resolute in pinning this debacle on Bush, though.. It's HIS baby and he must claim it.


Perhaps a commission should be appointed to study the middle class.. What it was..what it is now..How it USED to work, and why.. and HOW to get it back before it's too late.

Our country has come to be KNOWN for its sweeping middle class, and once it's gone, we will be little more than a big angry country with no unity, but a lot of weapons.That's not exactly a future the world can accept.

We have to decide pretty soon where we are headed.

'08 is the first step on that journey back to civility and responsibility.