Congratulations Republicans

It is the day after. It is a different type of hangover. What happened last night? There is no way to positively spin it. The democrats, with the exception of California, took a beating last night. What happened and why, this blogger will leave to the pros to spin in either direction.

But what is worth looking into is where we have been and where we are going between now and the next big election in 2012 which is just two short years from now.

Two years ago: The stock market was at lows not seen in decades. Americans' 401K and IRA values melted like ice in a tavern urinal on St. Patrick's Day. Stocks like General Electric were at historic lows. The American banking system was about three days away from collapse making the dollar worthless (think about THAT!). General Motors, an employer of half a million people was bleeding cash and would file bankruptcy. Chrysler was in danger of shutting its doors forever and shedding nearly sixty-thousand jobs. Between these two iconic automobile companies and Ford, nearly two-thousand dealerships across America were closed because cars were not selling. American jobs were being lost at a monthly rate unseen since the Great Depression. We were also fighting a war in Iraq that was costing billions and many felt was unwarranted. Most importantly there was no plan to turn any of this around.

Today: As this is written the stock market is over 11,000 and the Fortune 500 have record amounts of cash on hand. Bailed out banks and insurance companies are paying back the money lent to them by the government and our financial system has been stabilized. Once the money is all paid back, it will be done so at a PROFIT to the American taxpayer. General Motors most recently reported a profit and Chrysler is now part of one of the largest car companies on the planet, Fiat, and continues to produce vehicles and employ workers. While few would argue that job creation and unemployment is where is needs to be, this country is no longer bleeding jobs and jobs are being created. As for the war in Iraq, we are no longer involved in day-to-day combat operations in that country. All this and we now have a health care program in place that for starters makes health care available to 30-million people who would not be able to afford it. Insurers can no longer cancel or disallow the insured for existing conditions and children up to the age of 26 can now remain on their parents' policies.

IF YOU THINK THIS IS SPIN, GOOGLE EACH OF THESE ITEMS. Now I ask when had so much been done for so many in such a short time? It was accomplished with the refusal of the Republicans to participate in any meaningful way.

You really have to hand it to the Republicans though. How can these accomplishments in the past two years by a Democratic Executive and Legislative branch be woven into a negative story, sold by the Republican who were largely responsible for the economic meltdown in the first place, and roll to a landslide victory last night? I will leave that to each of you. But I have a pretty good idea about what will happen over the next two years.

I am reminded of the 1972 movie, The Candidate starring Robert Redford. At the end of the movie, Redford playing lawyer turned just elected candidate Bill McKay standing in a closet and asks "What do we do now?"

A friend of mine, a conservative told me how happy they were that the Republicans were going to win in this election cycle. But they added, "they better come up with a plan because I have not heard any plan from the Republicans." This pretty much sums up the blind devotion and blind faith that so many conservatives, independents and the misguided so-called tea partiers had during this election. If we do not make progress in the next two years, blame gridlock. Because that it was was voted for last night. There was no plan by the Republicans during the past two years (and extending back to the Bush administration) and there is no plan now.

So what will happen in the next two years? Well a friend of mine put it best: "The Republicans are great at winning, and bad at governing." So see them continue to campaign for the presidency in the next two years. They will continue to be the party of "no." But now that they control the lower house of Congress, they will not allow any legislation to pass that has any meaningful consequence. As the election cycle kicks in for 2012 they will blame the Obama administration for doing nothing and the continued suffering of the American people. Whether they can sell that in 2012 remains to be seen.

If history is any indication though, Democrats may have a glimmer of hope. A very similar political scenario played out in the mid-1990's. Bill Clinton was trying to clean up the Reagan/Bush 1 mess of the 1980's. It was no easy task either. He also lost Congress in 1994. By the turn of the century we were seeing unprecedented growth from a Democratic Executive branch and a Republican Legislative branch so there is some hope in a positive future. But times have changed. Back then the American people's well being seemed to be the common denominator between the two parties.

With a have/have-not mentality today of the conservative movement, that commonality may be gone.

From the middle what can we do? Demand an agenda from the Republicans. Ask your elected officials Democrat or Republican what they are going to do. How are they proposing to make America a better place in this irreversible global economy? Hold them accountable. If you are going to reduce government spending, where are you going to reduce it from? Ask them if they plan to reduce taxes, how are we going to pay off the debt that they are so adamantly against?

Ask tough questions and get direct answers. If nothing else we deserve that.