Last night we had the result the polls predicted, more or less. The President-elect of the United States is Barack Obama. with about a 6 percent edge in the popular vote. During his acceptance speech he stressed that this is not an end, but a beginning, and that he will need our support in the days to come. I think this election marks a turning of the corner for Americans, away from the mere mechanisms of a republic and towards a more participatory democracy. A lot of people worked hard to elect Obama this year, and they aren't going to let it go for naught.
There are still four outstanding close senate races. Incredibly, it looks like Alaskans voted to send the felon Ted Stevens back to Washington, where he can get expelled. That will let Sarah Palin appoint his replacement... which might be Sarah Palin. It's a smart move for her if she wants to buff her resume for a White House run in 2012. Having said that, I don't think Sarah in 2012 is a winning strategy for the Republicans. Then again, I'm kind of hoping that there is no winning strategy for the Republicans in 2012. It's easy to be aghast at the fact that Alaskans voted for someone as corrupt as Stevens, but I think I'll choose instead to be impressed that they fully understood the consequences and were really voting for "Republican Senator to be named later."
In Minnesota Norm Coleman and Al Franken are locked in a tight one, with Coleman probably having the edge. Coleman would have been trounced this year, I think, by a candidate with less baggage than Franken. It's important to note, however, that Coleman used to be quite the moderate, and maybe he'll find that instinct again now that he doesn't have to feel loyal to a GOP President. We can hope. Republican moderates are scarce in Washington and scarcer still after this election, and it may be important to remind the wingnuts that the moderates can win elections.
In Oregon Gordon Smith, another moderate Republican, is locked with Jeff Merkley. Smith ran left of his record in this election. Merkley will probably pull this one out, judging by which votes haven't been counted. It's nice to see the Dem's picking up seats, but it's a shame they have to pick them up from folks like Gordon Smith, instead of Ted Stevens.
66% of people 18-29 voted for Obama. My guess is that's at least somewhat indicative of 14-18 year olds, the people who will start voting next election. The only age category Obama lost in was the 65+ one, where McCain led, 53-45. My guess is that's indicative of the people who will be dying and not voting in the next 4 years, except perhaps in Chicago. Obama's likely to be strong in Chicago even if several generations of dead people vote. What all this says to me is that the future belongs to the Democrats, and all they have to do is not blow it.
My state, Virginia, has gone Democratic in the last 6 major statewide races (2 governors, 2 senators, and 1 for 2 on the presidential.) Virginia's default color is now blue.
The Dems are going to need to get Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins on board with major legislation, if they are to have the votes they need to break filibusters. The Republicans play a dangerous game here, though. If they let legislation through, then the Democrats will be seen as responsible for whatever happens, good or bad. If they filibuster, the public may very well blame them.
Either way, it's nice to have the veto pen in the hand of an actual adult.
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the future is the belongs to the Democrats, and all they have to do is not blow it.
The Democrats have a long tradition of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Any thoughts on how they'll do it this time?
So far, the current leadership of Democrats in Congress has been remarkably tentative, so if I'd have to guess, that's where the greatest danger lies -- that they'll be seen in 2 years as not having accomplished anything. If we're still in Iraq, or have go back in, that will be a major problem. I think, frankly, they won't be too affected by the economy; expectations for the economy are very low. But the Democrats have to look like they have a plan, and like they are doing something, and not get so lost in arguing about the plan that they don't end up doing anything.
The last time they were in control, they managed this by not passing health care legislation. This time, they better get that taken care of.
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