Two Houses, a Proposal, and a Secretary
I have to admit that I am stunned, shocked and amazed at the Democrats taking control of both the House and the Senate in the election. The rebuke of the current administration's policies — particularly and especially the war in Iraq — is unmistakable. I'm far from a die-hard Democrat, but I am very pleased by this result. As I have said elsewhere in this blog, the actions of the current Bush administration have changed me from a centrist leaning right to a centrist leaning more than a little left. I hope the Democratic leadership proves to be worlds better than the Republican one.

Usually, when I vote for you as a candidate or for a proposal you back, I am the kiss of death. This year was very different. Almost everyone or everything I voted for won. I don't know how to act. I'm happy, but I have been so clearly out of step with the electorate that being in step with them feels unnatural. My state had five ballot proposals. Four of them went the way I voted. The only people whom I voted for that didn't win were the Libertarians. Don't worry guys, I will always throw you a bone!

I am confused by the ouster of Donald Rumsfeld as the Secretary of Defense. Why show him the door the day after an election drubbing when his sacking prior to the election may have changed that election's outcome? It just suggests to me that there is substantial disarray within the Bush White House. I'm shocked at how a group that came on with such promise and such an impeccable resume has turned into The Gang that Couldn't Shoot Straight. Lies leading to the war in Iraq, utter failure to protect our borders, continued outsourcing of jobs, failure to increase the minimum wage, the Katrina disaster disaster, the rapid erosion of personal liberties, Guantanamo, Abu Graib, extraordinary renditions, bumbling North Korea — the list is endless.