Some Random Thoughts

• I think last night proved this country is still capable of holding our leaders accountable. Up until last night, I was losing hope. The spirit reflected in the first line of Declaration of Independence, still lives in our hearts...

"When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."

• The US Constitution was the biggest winner last night.
• Those folks in Illinois who voted against Tammy Duckworth will burn in hell one day.
• Those folks in Illinois who voted for Denny Hastert are huge hypocrites. They're the same people who cried loudest about Clinton's personal failings but yesterday they supported a man who covered up the Page Scandal and chose politics over morals. They ought to be ashamed.
• The hidden gem last night is the state legislatures and Governorships the Democrats won. Those state leadership positions are what gives the party in charge control over redistricting and over the machinery of counting the votes. In Ohio, I'm certain EVERYONE who votes will have that vote counted in 2008. That didn't happen in 2004.
• The Blue wave that hit the country last night wasn't limited to liberals or liberal states. The Democrats ran moderates in many of the races. This should give us all hope that they get it. And this may lead the country back to the middle. Already this morning, many of the blogs I link to are calling on the Democrats to pay back the liberal base for yesterday's victories. The truth is, the base worked very hard but the Democrats hold the house because they didn't run Ted Kennedy in every district. Liberals are smart enough to understand this.
• That said, I hope the first agenda items include hearings on Iraq. It's great to propose raising the minimum wage and expanding student loan programs but hey, we've got our men and women dying over there. For nothing. They deserve, no, they DEMAND our immediate attention. Anything less than our troops being the top priority will be seen as a failure of the new congress. And this will dishearten those that created this wave yesterday. We'll have to exercise patience on many things but we cannot drag our feet on this. Get Rummy's ass in there PRONTO and ask him the tough questions!
• Rahm... I'm proud you're from Illinois. Great job!
• Dirty Delay's congressional seat is now held by a Democrat. Of all the things that tickle me about last night, that's right up there. You might recall Dirty's statement that the Republicans would hold a permanent majority in Congress. Dang Dirty, you couldn't even old your own seat!
• Harold Ford lost last night but he might have been the most inspirational voice heard all night long. Tennessee did us all a disservice in not sending him to the Senate. I'm certain his future is very bright.
• Cook County... yikes! The Democrats put the former President of the Board's kid up for his dad's old job and it looks like they're playing games with the votes to be certain he wins it. This will be a black eye for Democrats if this election isn't above board. Just the fact that they put this kid up as their candidate is bad enough. Hell, I voted Republican on that one! Pathetic Daley, really really pathetic. You could have done better. I'm sick of corruption across the board. On a national level, that meant we needed to toss out the Republicans. Locally, it looks to be the Democrats that need to have their clocks cleaned.
• And Rod, Guv baby... I hope you're clean. You got my vote yesterday on faith. You let your constituents down, we'll recall you like California did. Maybe give your job to Bruce Willis or some other Hollywood type. You better be clean!
• I went to bed at about 2:30 last night. Damn am I tired.

The president waves goodbye to his mandate.