Winning and Losing - Random Thoughts

So the Dems seem to have (in Bush's words) given the Republicans a "thumpin."

That does not mean that the real problems with electronic voting have suddenly disappeared. However, that "thumpin" is likely to take folks eyes off the issues. It does set up an environment where people think they've won and so go home. I have seen this happen with too many issues.

It also does not mean that we are "in the clear." A Democratic majority may be able to obstruct the furthering of the agenda of despotism that has occurred over the last six years - it is not likely that the destruction of the Constitution, Bill of Rights, nor civil liberties, are going to be restored.

Some people may have high hopes of the Democrats making bold moves to redefine the issues. I have no such hopes because even during the most critical election in at least a generation, they were not bold. Instead, they tried to play to some perceived "center" which is actually somewhere to the Right of McCarthy. If we want real change, then people are going to have to continue to push politicians - and continue to talk the issues in their communities.

I am not trying to be a "gloomy Gus," but I am a realist and someone who has been involved in social change movements for decades. A "win" sends most folks home with a smile on their faces. Maintaining the momentum for substantive issues and concerns is tremendously difficult.

OK so Rumsfeld is out and Gates is in.
- That does not necessarily mean that the Bush policy in Iraq is going to change.
- Gates is getting positive reviews on cable news, but he was CIA under Daddy Bush, and there are issues about Gates and Iran-Contra. Is he yet another like Negroponte, who has "valuable skills?" Look up Gates in Namebase under the "proximity search." It is interesting.

Remember that the most significant force for change is us, and that in a democracy, we are the "watchdogs."