After a long election day and a hearty victory celebration, I couldn't be happier with tonight's election results. It sent the right message, not just for the Republicans, but also to the Democrats.
Although Dems have retaken the House, it was not by a large margin. There was no mandate, but instead a divided government in which both parties will now have to work together. This is a good thing.
The number one issue remains the War on Terror. We should not have to choose between an incompetent Bush Administration - who, through sheer stubbornness, has managed to turn a necessary action in Iraq into a complete debacle - and the more extreme left-wing Democrats who, just as stubbornly, refuse to recognize the threat of Islamo-fascism.
Enter Joe Lieberman, one of our most decent and thoughtful public officials. His win tonight diverted the Democratic Party from a leftward slide that could have made it a permanent minority party. The Connecticut race was a symbol for the far left. Had Lamont won, they would have used that result as a lever to pressure Hilary, Obama and other moderates into weaker (and unelectable) positions on national security.
Lieberman's win is a win for the traditional Democrats in the Truman / JFK mode and a defeat for the Al Sharpton / Michael Moore wing. Not good news for out-of- control Bush who would rather be facing easily dismissed lefties. Hopefully the new Democratic leadership will work with Republican moderates like John McCain to keep Bush in check and pursue a more productive course in Iraq.
I strongly believe that the American people are basically moderate who lean a bit left on some issues and right on others. The extreme partisanship that has poisoned Washington is not healthy. Perhaps tonight's results will force at least a type of cooperation between the parties. The stakes are too high not to.
Although Dems have retaken the House, it was not by a large margin. There was no mandate, but instead a divided government in which both parties will now have to work together. This is a good thing.
The number one issue remains the War on Terror. We should not have to choose between an incompetent Bush Administration - who, through sheer stubbornness, has managed to turn a necessary action in Iraq into a complete debacle - and the more extreme left-wing Democrats who, just as stubbornly, refuse to recognize the threat of Islamo-fascism.
Enter Joe Lieberman, one of our most decent and thoughtful public officials. His win tonight diverted the Democratic Party from a leftward slide that could have made it a permanent minority party. The Connecticut race was a symbol for the far left. Had Lamont won, they would have used that result as a lever to pressure Hilary, Obama and other moderates into weaker (and unelectable) positions on national security.
Lieberman's win is a win for the traditional Democrats in the Truman / JFK mode and a defeat for the Al Sharpton / Michael Moore wing. Not good news for out-of- control Bush who would rather be facing easily dismissed lefties. Hopefully the new Democratic leadership will work with Republican moderates like John McCain to keep Bush in check and pursue a more productive course in Iraq.
I strongly believe that the American people are basically moderate who lean a bit left on some issues and right on others. The extreme partisanship that has poisoned Washington is not healthy. Perhaps tonight's results will force at least a type of cooperation between the parties. The stakes are too high not to.
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