What can we say about the election results? Some random thoughts:
I have several emotions on this day after the election. I am disappointed, angry and sad for our country. It is a day of mourning.
This is not the country I know any longer. This is not the country where a president could say: "Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country". That call to service has been turned on its head. We are now a "gimme" nation with Sandra Fluke as its emblem.
We have drifted to this conclusion for some time; it did not happen in one day. Who is to say when it started----when was the balance between sobriety and irresponsibility tipped? Who was there to warn of unsustainable expenditures---why did we allow them to be marginalized?
We face some very serious problems--you might even refer to them as existential. With Romney, I could see a way out; with Obama, the uncertainty continues. His campaign was one of acrimony--it will not be easily bridged. He is not prone to compromise, to reach across the aisle, to respect those in opposition.
The first crises facing us is the so called fiscal cliff. The President and Congress should address it now--there is no longer any excuse to kick the can down the road. The solution isn't in raising taxes for the rich--the problem is much larger. Spending has to be brought under control. Speaker Boehner now has the proverbial task of putting his finger in the dike.
What will be the impact on our role in the world? What is to become of the Middle East? Of Israel--our friend and ally? Will the world now be apportioned into spheres of influence--China, Russia and us? We know that terrorists are not defeated despite Osama's demise--they will strike again but where and when? How will we respond? Only time will tell.
These are my random thoughts on the day after the election. What are yours?
I have several emotions on this day after the election. I am disappointed, angry and sad for our country. It is a day of mourning.
This is not the country I know any longer. This is not the country where a president could say: "Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country". That call to service has been turned on its head. We are now a "gimme" nation with Sandra Fluke as its emblem.
We have drifted to this conclusion for some time; it did not happen in one day. Who is to say when it started----when was the balance between sobriety and irresponsibility tipped? Who was there to warn of unsustainable expenditures---why did we allow them to be marginalized?
We face some very serious problems--you might even refer to them as existential. With Romney, I could see a way out; with Obama, the uncertainty continues. His campaign was one of acrimony--it will not be easily bridged. He is not prone to compromise, to reach across the aisle, to respect those in opposition.
The first crises facing us is the so called fiscal cliff. The President and Congress should address it now--there is no longer any excuse to kick the can down the road. The solution isn't in raising taxes for the rich--the problem is much larger. Spending has to be brought under control. Speaker Boehner now has the proverbial task of putting his finger in the dike.
What will be the impact on our role in the world? What is to become of the Middle East? Of Israel--our friend and ally? Will the world now be apportioned into spheres of influence--China, Russia and us? We know that terrorists are not defeated despite Osama's demise--they will strike again but where and when? How will we respond? Only time will tell.
These are my random thoughts on the day after the election. What are yours?
Norm perhaps shows like Revolution and the one about the submarine crew are not so fictional. Get a book on survival so you know what to do in a national crisis. Libya will get the bomb and we are just the big target for evil to go after. I will watch the stock market. Maybe mattresses are the best place for money....
ReplyDeleteNorm, I am sure this must be a very difficult day. I commend you for posting your thoughts this morning and keeping the conversation going. Now that we are beyond the campaigning, I think we can step back and look at the bigger picture/path forward.
ReplyDeleteWhile I understand your frustrations with the Obama administration and the Democrats in the Senate, I think the blame can be evenly shared for the gridlock. There is no longer a chance to deny the President a second term, so its time to work on the serious problems of this country, especially the fiscal cliff. Neither side wants to see the sequestration/automatic tax hikes occur, so I believe a deal will be made quickly.
A lot of the conservative commentary I watched last night focused on the need for Republicans to again be the party of ideas. If Republicans can come up with a way out of this mess, I am all for it and they should be able to sell it to the people. I think they need to give the electorate more credit in the area of understanding such things.
I think you greatly overestimate the turnout for Obama being about a culture of what can the government do for me. Many very educated, employed people voted for the President, and did so for many good reasons. They still associate they Republican party with deregulation that created the mess on Wall Street, unnecessary wars, and a lack of tolerance for anyone who isn't a white male. That may not be the Republican party you know, but that is the sentiment of many people I talk to.
I look forward to seeing the younger stars of the Republican party get a chance to shine/lead the party in a different direction. Fiscal conservatism combine with a moderate social agenda could have won this election. The pundits realize that the primary process drags the candidates too far to the right, away from the general public on many issues. Those issues may be small relative to things like the economy, but they matter and are tangible to voters.
I am cautiously optimistic that this second term will bring the compromise and progress needed to take this country off the cliff, and not over it. Only time will tell.
Firstly, of course one of your Republican aunts would have to take real issue with the "republican white male" comment... last I noticed I was a white female conservative Republican.
ReplyDeleteFor the rest, I wish your prognostications would be true: I tend to doubt it. There are no restraints for this President now. Only the House that will face enormous pressure to cave. I fear for our international safety, and that we will go the way of Spain and Greece and truly face civil strife. It is now about the haves and have nots...
the hand outs and the hand-ees.
I do commend you for your understanding about how we feel today.
I would not expect less from my godson. Thank you for that. Also, it is good we can continue to discuss reasonably.
I have actually lost "friends" over this whole thing. I fear for the precious freedom of our right to speak our minds and express our opinion, this country will need healing from the divisiveness resulting from this campaign.
We pray for each other and our country, Above all we are Americans.
Sandy, my apologies. My broader point was that they Republican party, as admitted by conservative pundits last night, does little to appeal to female voters. Of course there were a number of white females that voted for Romney last night, but the female vote went strongly to Obama for social reasons.
ReplyDeleteI will always be an optimist. I don't see this as a mandate moment for the President at all. I think he is aware how close he came to being a one-term president, and what frustration exists in this great country. How we move forward, we will see.
-Your loving godson.
Ryan
ReplyDeleteThe election is over and we must look to the future. However, there are some misstatements of historical fact that you and your friends are either not aware of or have overlooked.
The reason for the 2008 financial meltdown originates with the repeal of a law forbidding banks to mix their banking business with their investment arm. That left it to the banks to play with other people's (depositors) money backed of course by the FDIC. This repeal was signed by President Clinton.
Another factor was a push by Democrats in Congress (namely Barney Frank and Chris Dodd) for Fannie May and Fannie Mac to be more liberal in supporting mortgages for people with marginal credit backed of course by taxpayers.
From that point on banks did what comes naturally--they saw opportunity in making a bundle of money at little risk to themselves especially with so called credit swaps in place and the backing of good old Uncle Sam.
In 2008 the big banks were deemed "too big to fail" and needed a bail-out from guess who? To me "too big to fail" means that they should have been broken up years ago (remember AT&T?) under the anti-trust laws and the fact that they weren't is a dereliction of duty on the government's part. The Dodd-Frank law purports to remedy the situation with more laws and regulation which only make the problem more complicated to the point of being almost unworkable.
Your perception of the Republican Party having "a lack of tolerance" is a broadside that is not warranted. Sure there is some intolerance in the Party but don't imagine for a moment that the Dems are pure as the driven snow. They have a long history of discrimination and persecution of Blacks and other minorities late into the last century. Senator Byrd, a Democrat and praised as a constitutional expert up to his recent death, was once an active member of the KKK. Democrats get the credit for the Voting Rights Act passed under the Johnson presidency but President Eisenhower asked for such action (which went nowhere in the Democratic Congress) and in 1964, the bill was supported by Republicans.
I won't comment any further on so called social issues and other issues--you know where I stand. Suffice it to say that unless we change course, we are becoming a country that is heading to second rate status.
Norm, perhaps lack of tolerance wasn't the correct phrasing, but the leaders of the Republican party admit there are issues appealing to minorities. After reading comments from many conservative facebook friends, there is a growing sentiment that minorities vote for Obama because they are lazy and want to live off the government. Even Bill O'Reilly justified the electoral college landslide as being due to overwhelming number of people who 'want stuff'.
ReplyDeletehttp://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/2012/11/08/the-gops-self-defeating-image-of-minorities-as-takers/?cp=7
As for the causes of the financial crisis, I agree that repealing Glass-Steagall was the beginning of the end. I was referring to a perception that this crisis really accelerated at the end of 8 years of a Republican in the White House, not that Republicans were solely to blame.
A large majority of voters have no idea what they are voting for or against when they head to the polls. They vote on emotion and misinformation far too often.
I have been listening to a lot of commentary about election reform, compulsory voting, and the end of the electoral college. What are your thoughts on compulsory voting? In Australia, they require people of age to vote, and impose a small fine (~$20) if you dont. You can choose to vote for noone if you prefer, but you must show up. The feeling is that if you know everyone is going to vote (>90% there), politicians dont need to pander to certain voting blocks or scare out the vote, resulting in more centrist politicians.
I will admit that my knowledge of history and the constitution is not as strong as yours. I enjoy being able to discuss ideas within the realm of politics and economics. Hopefully, you will continue this blog and we will have a chance to discuss the upcoming measures to avoid the fiscal cliff, foreign policy, and individual liberties.
This election proves that facts and a documented "record", matter little to voters or they do not know of, nor comprehend them.....I would state the republican party should consider letting the democrits have "their way". These majority of voters who support democrits simply must learn their lesson the hard way, as most of us have done at one time or another during our lives. By 2016 when energy costs will continue their increase, and debt approaches $20T.....The dems will have no choice but lead us into default on debt or cut spending. We hear talk about a fiscal cliff.....accommodate Obama and raise taxes. Accommodate Obama and watch energy costs skyrocket. All these cost increases will be passed onto the consumer and the majority of voters need to feel the pain, and maybe Obama's speeches will not be so wonderful when he bits his lip and talks about his feeling their pain.....So for my two cents, the republicans need to hold firm on Constitutional issues. Do not compromise their moral values, and simply allow Obama, Reid, and Pelosi to confirm what conservatives have warned about.....This is the only way for republicans to re-establish the governing principles. Yes, stand back and allow the dems to fail.....
DeleteKenny
ReplyDeleteYours is an understandable reaction after a bitter campaign that our side lost. I agree that we need to uphold the Constitution and moral values. But it is also important to defend free enterprise principles that we believe are best for our economic and societal welfare. The battle is not only in Congress. Republicans can do more to explain to those "voters who support democrits" how conservative economic principles are in their best interests. It will be tough going and the mass media is against us but I think it is a fight worth fighting.
Norm, I sent you an e-mail this AM re: the election. I think it worthy to read and maybe post? I simply do not know how to get through to "liberals". For example, the Catholic Bishops had a year long time-frame in which they attempted to "educate" Catholics regarding voting their conscience. The Bishops did everything but state: you cannot vote for Obama/Biden.....We know of the religious liberty issue, and yet the vote went 54% of Catholics for Obama in 2008 to 50% in 2012....Among "practicing" Catholics: 42% in 08' to 40% in 12'....This small decline of support despite week after week of prayers and intersessions. A fortnight for freedom, etc...
DeleteNow for those who may read my thoughts and claim a separation of church and state or politics and religion don't mix.......May I suggest to such folks they begin reading and learning by reading the first paragraph of the Declaration of Independence. There are many good books which may "enlighten" readers to our founding Father's thoughts......To fully understand any "document", one must also know the intent of the documents writers. What did they say? Why? How did they write it? How do we interpret such today? I think back to LBJ's "great society" idealism and fast forward to today. Check out the results of 40 years of welfare.
I challenge people to read the book: We Were Born to Shine...Because We Believe, by Ruth Stafford. Ruth taught school for 46 years, is now retired, and her book may open people's eye's into a different perspective. God Bless America