The Angry American Electorate

I am so glad that the election will bring the end to these silly, offensive, unfair, and just plain ornery political ads on TV and radio. Many say this is the worst it has ever been. Maybe so, because it feels like it, but in my brief foray into political history going back to Lincoln, there have always been nasty people who cannot stop themselves from hurtling invectives; the truth be damned.

America is angry. Not just the vocal Tea Partyers, but far more if the polls are correct. The people wanted immediate fixes to long-term problems, and the Democrats, mostly the President charged into the storm only to find that it was tougher than expected.

This election, it seems, is going to be near historic for Congressional seats lost to the party in power. The polls differ somewhat but it is clear that the GOP will claim at least the 39 seats it needs in the House. The Senate is debatable.

But I have to say that Republicans and Tea Partyers should tread lightly in their rejoicing what they might see as a win. The American people of all stripes are angry and it ain’t just at the Dems. They are smart enough to know that President Obama did not create all of this mess. He may just have underestimated what it would take to fix. Well heck, he DID underestimate, no doubt.

So I am cautiously hopeful for the future. Not that I will enjoy Republican domination (remember that power corrupts), but if this is about change, then let’s hope they use this change to move forward and not get stuck in constant partisan gridlock. Say a prayer for America.

Where is the Outrage Now?

It sure is getting harder these days to espouse conservative views. Although an Independent, I have to say I lean to the conservative side on occasion. Yet I would not want to be allied with the likes Carl Paladino, Republican candidate for NY governor. Nor would I care to associate with Christine O’Donnell, she of the witchcraft and evolution fame. The list of borderline radicals (I am being nice) is growing and the polls are showing they might have a chance at winning.

Where is the outrage from Rush and Glenn at these foibles and missteps taken by these tea drinking candidates (I wonder if it is tea or electric Kool-Aid?). If these were new Dem candidates with stories of witchcraft, inflated resumes, and questionable spending of campaign funds, they would be all over it like flies on a corpse. Their shows would be pounding and pounding at these indiscretions until someone would yell, “Uncle!”

Instead, they are apologists for these lame-brained late-to-the party Warholians getting their 15 minutes. If the polls are correct, and sometimes they are, then even the electorate must be so dissatisfied with the status quo that they are willing to overlook the warts, and maybe even the moral shortcomings. I just can’t quite get there. We have enough less-than- wholesome members of congress and other elected officials that I would not want to add to that pile. Unfortunately, I think we are headed that way. We need some Divine guidance, and quick.