Pondering Life Three Time Zones Away (the 2008 edition)
Ah, another election, and another blog written from California (the 2006 was written during training in San Diego) with thoughts about the political change that has just swept our country. Of course, unless you've been living under a rock you probably know know that Barak Obama is now our President-Elect. Whether you are in love with that idea or praying that Jesus raptures us before January 20th, this is now a fact... and honestly even though I'm not excited about it I'm warming up to it... and I do not believe that America is destined for the apocalyptic collapse that some of my friends on the right are hinting at.
I reposted my blog from 2006, because the momentum all started then with the Democratic sweep of Congress as a backlash to a lot of garbage that we've been putting up with from an out-of-touch and entrenched Republican government, and definitely not a lot of love for President Bush either. The war in Iraq being a complete mess didn't help out much at all either.
What's wrong with us? I still identify as a Republican... I believe in limited government, low taxes, and a strong America that is in control of our destiny... Ronald Reagan inspired me. I'm not ashamed at all of that. But let's face it, our party is (still) out of touch... we're not the Republican Party of Ronald Reagan and Newt Gingrich in 2008. We're reeling. Losing the Presidency and more parity in the Congress is proof of that. The voters have spoken... they want change, and that means Democrats are getting elected. Do I have hope for our party? Yes, actually... because there is breed of Populist conservative that is starting to step up and get noticed (Mike Huckabee and Sarah Palin were the most visible in this election... their time has not yet come) that I hope can transform both the debate and the view America has of conservatism... unfortunately, there's a lot of baggage out there... but perhaps this election will finally force our representatives to wake up, look at the mirror, and themselves change.
Liberals have rebranded... now it's Conservatives' turn. I still believe the truth is on our side, it's just a matter of packaging it better and convincing those of us that don't watch FoxNews ;-).
By the way, RNC... "Drill Baby Drill".... not good.
By the way, congrats to all who voted for Barak Obama on the victory. This was a historic election in many ways. Barak Obama is definitely an energizing personality, inspires people, and has run a good campaign. What I believe will be interesting is now that Senator Obama is now President-Elect Obama is seeing what happens now that he is in the drivers' seat. For the most part, we still don't know much about him other than his talk, his speeches, his rallies, and his promises. NOW, Barak Obama has to DO something, and it'll be interesting to see what he DOES and how it matches up to what he SAID. When the glitz is off and the work of governing has begun, will we still like what we got?
By the way, us Conservatives were equally excited about George W Bush in 2000. All that change of tone in Washington, make government work for you not against you... he promised that and to a certain extent delivered it in Texas before moving to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. I've got a little buyers remorse on that one. I had a man crush on "W" back then... not so much now.
I do think that there is going to be some good coming out of this Presidency, so I do have hope, even though it's not hope based on experience.
Some things I will like about the new Administration:
1.. I do like Barak Obama's plan to invest resources in making renewable/green fuels marketable... I don't think that would happen without a little push. We need to get some more funding and brainpower behind that, and I think he'll make it a priority. The thing I feared about "drill, baby, drill" was that once you open up fields to drill then investment in the future (non-petroleum fuels) just goes down, especially with over $60/bbl crude prices. There was no real guarantee that John McCain's "we have to do everything" was really going to happen.
2.. I hope he does change the tone of Washington and we get to bringing a moderate all-sides approach to solving the problems facing our country. Time will tell as to whether he really delivers on that.
And as for socialism... especially with health care... perhaps it may not be as far-reaching as we fear. And perhaps it may work, who knows? Some of the folks I know that live in Europe like the benefits of it. Perhaps if more cash is invested in infrastructure as he has said, we can actually get some public transit systems that work, especially in Atlanta.... Hey, this is my "look on the bright side of life" view of this.
And if it doesn't work... 2010 should be an interesting Congressional election. If that happens, Who'll be the Newt Gingrich of 2010? Hmmmmmmm.
I reposted my blog from 2006, because the momentum all started then with the Democratic sweep of Congress as a backlash to a lot of garbage that we've been putting up with from an out-of-touch and entrenched Republican government, and definitely not a lot of love for President Bush either. The war in Iraq being a complete mess didn't help out much at all either.
What's wrong with us? I still identify as a Republican... I believe in limited government, low taxes, and a strong America that is in control of our destiny... Ronald Reagan inspired me. I'm not ashamed at all of that. But let's face it, our party is (still) out of touch... we're not the Republican Party of Ronald Reagan and Newt Gingrich in 2008. We're reeling. Losing the Presidency and more parity in the Congress is proof of that. The voters have spoken... they want change, and that means Democrats are getting elected. Do I have hope for our party? Yes, actually... because there is breed of Populist conservative that is starting to step up and get noticed (Mike Huckabee and Sarah Palin were the most visible in this election... their time has not yet come) that I hope can transform both the debate and the view America has of conservatism... unfortunately, there's a lot of baggage out there... but perhaps this election will finally force our representatives to wake up, look at the mirror, and themselves change.
Liberals have rebranded... now it's Conservatives' turn. I still believe the truth is on our side, it's just a matter of packaging it better and convincing those of us that don't watch FoxNews ;-).
By the way, RNC... "Drill Baby Drill".... not good.
By the way, congrats to all who voted for Barak Obama on the victory. This was a historic election in many ways. Barak Obama is definitely an energizing personality, inspires people, and has run a good campaign. What I believe will be interesting is now that Senator Obama is now President-Elect Obama is seeing what happens now that he is in the drivers' seat. For the most part, we still don't know much about him other than his talk, his speeches, his rallies, and his promises. NOW, Barak Obama has to DO something, and it'll be interesting to see what he DOES and how it matches up to what he SAID. When the glitz is off and the work of governing has begun, will we still like what we got?
By the way, us Conservatives were equally excited about George W Bush in 2000. All that change of tone in Washington, make government work for you not against you... he promised that and to a certain extent delivered it in Texas before moving to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. I've got a little buyers remorse on that one. I had a man crush on "W" back then... not so much now.
I do think that there is going to be some good coming out of this Presidency, so I do have hope, even though it's not hope based on experience.
Some things I will like about the new Administration:
1.. I do like Barak Obama's plan to invest resources in making renewable/green fuels marketable... I don't think that would happen without a little push. We need to get some more funding and brainpower behind that, and I think he'll make it a priority. The thing I feared about "drill, baby, drill" was that once you open up fields to drill then investment in the future (non-petroleum fuels) just goes down, especially with over $60/bbl crude prices. There was no real guarantee that John McCain's "we have to do everything" was really going to happen.
2.. I hope he does change the tone of Washington and we get to bringing a moderate all-sides approach to solving the problems facing our country. Time will tell as to whether he really delivers on that.
And as for socialism... especially with health care... perhaps it may not be as far-reaching as we fear. And perhaps it may work, who knows? Some of the folks I know that live in Europe like the benefits of it. Perhaps if more cash is invested in infrastructure as he has said, we can actually get some public transit systems that work, especially in Atlanta.... Hey, this is my "look on the bright side of life" view of this.
And if it doesn't work... 2010 should be an interesting Congressional election. If that happens, Who'll be the Newt Gingrich of 2010? Hmmmmmmm.
Comments
I think he might have a different tone in Washington. I don't know for certain that he's an "insider".
I'd like to hear more about the middle clsss - centric economic policy.
I wouldn't worry with about socialized medicine. If the government doctor is a Yugo, there is always room for someone willing to pay for Cadillac treatment. There is gonna have to be a baseline level of care people can all get an afford. I don't think this will depress doctor salaries down to the point they can't buy Porsches anymore ;)
The Republicans have 4 years to develop an appealing, relavant that expands beyond the anti-abortion / small government position. That horse needs a little help to appeal to an increasing educated electorate.
McCain had all the charisma of Admiral Stockdale from the old Perot attempt.
Somewhere out there is a dynamic GOP Obama of our own. Or go back to the roots and bring back Newt.
We already did with the recent government takeover of the banking system... I think McCain would have eventually relinquished govt interests... don't think Obama will.
With the energy situation, I do think this is a good candidate for some government action as we do need to incentivize green fuels and this has only really happened when gasoline is super expensive... I do think the $4+/gallon thing did get people to see reality, but we do have short memories in this country.
Newt can't win on a national scale, unfortunately... he's too much of an intellectual for the National debate. He's kind of like a GOP version of Walter Mondale... obviously Mondale wasn't too electable Nationally either. I think Huck or Palin could do it... both are populists that think outside the stale issue/big business is the answer box that we've been crammed into. I'd love to see one (or both) of them on a ticket in 2012.