Vol. 1, Issue #21 Nov. 10th - Nov. 23rd, 2006

The New Congress
By: Rob in a Red State

Thank you Founding Fathers. Thank you Constitution and democracy. There is something amazing to be said about the bloodless, people-empowered transfer of power that we in the United States enjoy. It’s one of the greatest things that our caring, intelligent and very human framers of the Constitution left us, their children. They had the foresight, and knew the consequences for the people if it was not possible. Thank you.

Thank you voters, who never believed that Democrats wanted terrorists to win. They are your friends and family. You knew that all they want is this country to be as great as it can be. Thank you for not believing the lies.

Big victory for the Democrats. I’m a little giddy now, but I never got my hopes up. I remember 2004 when I did get my hopes up, and was smashed on the rocks and had to listen to the President say he “had a mandate” of which he and his handlers blew like everything else. I bitterly recall 2000 and the 50-50, non-election, chad-strewn bizzarro-world we lived in for weeks. I remember how cheated I felt when the courts decided Bush was the “decider,” and had to listen to the likes of Rush Limbaugh tell me to “get over it”. I never did. I remember how my heart went to my stomach when we were lied into war with Iraq, like watching a nightmare in slow motion, not being able to do anything about it. I remember Colin Powell lying to the U.N.. I remember going to Washington DC, and how my complete awe of the history and nobility was tarnished because of the neocons who ruled there. Now, after 6 years of ultra-conservative winter, war and bank-breaking, the clouds part, and the sun is visible.

Back in the 90’s, I didn’t hate so much that there was a Republican controlled congress during the Clinton years. I think it made Clinton work harder, even though the opposition seemed to be tied to making some scandal stick to the dress. Say what you will about Bill the awesome, he did what he could for peace in the middle east and when he left, he (and yes, a Republican controlled congress) left some money in the bank. A lot of money for us to do what we wanted to. That money could have cut taxes on the middle class, rebuilt the trade center and still had enough left over for a round of drinks for America to mass-toast each other, Democrat, Republican and independent, over our cleverness and ability to overcome adversity. It could have been a grand victory out of the ashes to let the world know how great we really are. What a great legacy that would have been! To create rather than destroy. Blow it up, we’ll build it again, and we will keep and expand our freedoms, no matter what you do to us. We win.

But no. Bush had his white whale to follow beyond all else. The Queequeg congress, loyal and quiet, followed the captain on his quest despite the damage to the ship and the legacy it left. Now, they’re sunk. Hopefully now we have the time and ability to save ourselves.

Don’t blow it, Dems. This is your opportunity. You have your work cut out for you. Don’t pay attention to the graft and special interests waving their naked breasts in your face. It’s only the siren song leading you to the rocks where the neocons wrecked in scandal. Get the peoples work done. Let’s get the minimum wage raised quickly and move to the problems of death and war.

We have to find a way out of Iraq. Dems, reach across the isle and become friends again with the reasonable Republicans and forgive their trespass like our own red-state Democrat Brad Henry. (Congratulations, Governor. You are loved.) Take his landslide lesson and listen to Republican ideas. Study the evidence, the TRUE evidence... and suggest your own ideas. Find the best one and make it happen. It will take brains, diplomacy and hard decisions. Get the middle east involved in Iraq. The American occupation can still be a victory if we raise up the nobility of the people. We can’t work it out for them, they have to work it out themselves in their land like we did in ours. We took Saddam and still need to lend them a hand somehow, but the course now is wrong and our soldiers are dying. It’s up to you to find the way, because the Republicans don’t know. Here’s a first step. Rumsfeld must go.

My new majority, you must implement the recommendations of the 9-11 commission. Check the no-bid contracts. Stop the free rides. Account for the 350 billion spent in Iraq. Get the troops their armor or get them home.

Help Bush make the shift from Iraq to Bin Laden. He’s the one that needs to be brought to justice for his crimes against the American people. Bush vowed and pledged to make the ones who attacked our country pay for their crimes. Now you must take Bush by the hand and make him see the right course. I want to see Bin Laden on trial. I don’t give a snot in hell about Saddam. He didn’t order and execute the deaths of 3000 American civilians. Yes, there were the Kurds he gassed, but if that was such a priority for America, why was Rumsfeld shaking the mans hand? Why isn’t Darfur a priority now?

Newly elected, you must also move to return Habeus Corpus and the rest of the Bill of Rights taken away from the American people by the Bush Administration. Bush sure talked a big game on undefined freedom, but when it came to taking them from us in the name of the undefined War on Terrorism, he didn’t hesitate. People who give up freedom for security deserve neither, and I want mine back. The oath of office of the congress and president asks if they will uphold the Constitution of the United States. Let’s take that as a priority, and not a mere guideline.

Let’s encourage Bush to talk to North Korea and Iran. We need to at least hear what they have to say and have a channel where we can make our needs known. They aren’t going away and need to be dealt with. I’m sure the Reaganites that are left know some Iranians they can put us in touch with.

Ok, cheap shot, but old habits die hard.

As for the Republican incumbents booted this election, it was about Bush. It was about holding the Administration accountable, which you were not willing or able to do. It’s about people angry at the self-interest the neocons seemed to only be interested in. The new majority must hold the Administration to account for their lies and wars and no-bid war profiteering. The people are tired, and they have spoken.

I’ll make a deal with you, my Republican brothers. If this Democratic-controlled congress doesn’t hold the Constitution and freedom of the American people above their own power and egos like the previous congress did, I’ll help you vote them out when the time comes. I offer this as my oath.

Now let’s get to work.

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