What the Results Really Mean: Quick Lessons from the Mid Term Elections
Posted: Thursday, November 04, 2010
by Mogama
http://www.mogama.info
Back in 2002, I cast my first vote as an American citizen. It's a solemn feeling every time, and a learning experience too. What do the results of the 2010 mid term elections mean, besides prescribing Pepto-Bismol for the Commander-In-Chief?
1. Many American voters have gone from distrusting government to despising government. "Government is the enemy", they cry. Politicians who ride this anti-government wave into electoral victory only dig their own graves, because they will soon become the newly despised.
2. American voters still hold the record on being the world's most impatient voters. The volatile voter is alive and well, nearly as unpredictable as the stock market. They demand politicians who give them a guarantee: "We'll get the economy (or whatever the mess is) fixed in 90 days or your money back". President Obama forgot he should have been Mr. Instant Coffee too.
3. The lifespan of political popularity continues to shrink. The time of Democrats being in control of Congress for 40 years is no more. And presidential popularity has an even shorter lifespan: less than two years for Mr. Obama. No more larger-than-life politicians. Henceforth our national leaders will be fleeting dots in the dark.
4. Politicians and most voters are convinced that political attack ads (negative ads) are the wave of the future. If they rake in the votes, why risk ads that actually define "our side" and sell "our agenda"?
5. The voters of the United States value a divided government as the path to less government. Never mind that they have not achieved smaller government by way of a divided Congress.
6. Our democratic system continues to churn out fewer registered voters. Though we insist on hyperboles like "tsunami", "revolution", "wave" or "tidal wave" to speak of elections outcomes, only 42% of registered voters bothered to cast ballots on November 2, 2010. Imagine scoring 42% on an exam, then saying, "Celebrate with me … I almost made an F!"
7. The Bully Pulpit is dead. With the proliferation of television channels plus the alternative media, no president can capture the attention of significant numbers of American voters to make his case. No longer is the president a bully, and his pulpit has shrunk to the size of a lectern tagged for garage sale.
8. It is too soon to count President Obama out … whether he'll be a one-term president, which is like the curse of the American presidency. If he plays his hand well, especially since Congress is less popular than the president, Mr. Obama could win a second term like Presidents Clinton and Bush.
9. No longer is it enough for a president to keep his campaign promises. Good or bad, President Obama has kept his promises on Afghanistan, healthcare reform, gay rights, cap and trade, abortion, Wall Street reform, etc. Yet he gets creamed anyway.
10. Most important of all, the plans and platitudes of politicians remain hostage to the harsh realities of current events and Washington insider politics. Every new breed of activist politicians will crash into these twin towers.
Legislative gorillas like repealing "Obama care", eliminating the deficit, balancing the budget, imposing term limit, balanced budget amendment, and reducing the size of government will bow to political gymnastics on one hand and the unexpected on the other. No good person desires such turns of events, but we live in a fallen, unpredictable world to which political candidates often blind themselves. Just one major tragedy like a natural disaster or a terrorist attack… One international crisis like Iran acquiring a nuclear bomb, or Israel preemptively attacking Iran… And you can kiss your Tea Party wish list good night. Sorry. Current events rule. Freshmen, welcome to real-world politics.
~mogama~
1. Many American voters have gone from distrusting government to despising government. "Government is the enemy", they cry. Politicians who ride this anti-government wave into electoral victory only dig their own graves, because they will soon become the newly despised.
3. The lifespan of political popularity continues to shrink. The time of Democrats being in control of Congress for 40 years is no more. And presidential popularity has an even shorter lifespan: less than two years for Mr. Obama. No more larger-than-life politicians. Henceforth our national leaders will be fleeting dots in the dark.
4. Politicians and most voters are convinced that political attack ads (negative ads) are the wave of the future. If they rake in the votes, why risk ads that actually define "our side" and sell "our agenda"?
5. The voters of the United States value a divided government as the path to less government. Never mind that they have not achieved smaller government by way of a divided Congress.
6. Our democratic system continues to churn out fewer registered voters. Though we insist on hyperboles like "tsunami", "revolution", "wave" or "tidal wave" to speak of elections outcomes, only 42% of registered voters bothered to cast ballots on November 2, 2010. Imagine scoring 42% on an exam, then saying, "Celebrate with me … I almost made an F!"
7. The Bully Pulpit is dead. With the proliferation of television channels plus the alternative media, no president can capture the attention of significant numbers of American voters to make his case. No longer is the president a bully, and his pulpit has shrunk to the size of a lectern tagged for garage sale.
8. It is too soon to count President Obama out … whether he'll be a one-term president, which is like the curse of the American presidency. If he plays his hand well, especially since Congress is less popular than the president, Mr. Obama could win a second term like Presidents Clinton and Bush.
9. No longer is it enough for a president to keep his campaign promises. Good or bad, President Obama has kept his promises on Afghanistan, healthcare reform, gay rights, cap and trade, abortion, Wall Street reform, etc. Yet he gets creamed anyway.
10. Most important of all, the plans and platitudes of politicians remain hostage to the harsh realities of current events and Washington insider politics. Every new breed of activist politicians will crash into these twin towers.
Legislative gorillas like repealing "Obama care", eliminating the deficit, balancing the budget, imposing term limit, balanced budget amendment, and reducing the size of government will bow to political gymnastics on one hand and the unexpected on the other. No good person desires such turns of events, but we live in a fallen, unpredictable world to which political candidates often blind themselves. Just one major tragedy like a natural disaster or a terrorist attack… One international crisis like Iran acquiring a nuclear bomb, or Israel preemptively attacking Iran… And you can kiss your Tea Party wish list good night. Sorry. Current events rule. Freshmen, welcome to real-world politics.
~mogama~
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Top-level comments on this article: (8 total)Mogama, great article.I have no opinion on the American political system as such, but you are correct, all politicians are measured on current events.The public, wherever you are from, has an extremely short memory."The public, wherever you are from, has an extremely short memory." Right on, Bill. Thanks for commenting. ~mogama~
Hi Mogoma,Thank you for the transparent view of this subject. Since I’m not an American citizen I’m giving an opinion which is outside of the box.I simply believe there are too many people which are ignorant and do have a short memory. They just don’t care for this wonderful country in their heart. Unfortunately these will be the same ones which are crying for help, when something in their opinion is going wrong, because they are so much misunderstood.It seems to me: America is in a very delicate situation.What needs to happen to America that will start waking up people and bring them back together?You have posted a sobering question, Walter. And I hope the powers that be have a clue. ~mogama~
Great article Mogama
Tell it like it is.We have a great President that is working for the people and by the people.
Let's just say at least this President is doing something and not sleeping in the Bushes if you know what i mean...Thanks again.It seems, Mike, that most voters in the 2010 mid term elections did not share your assessment. They think President is destroying THEIR country. ~mogama~
The media doesn't make our impressions of the lawmakers any better but we need to grow up and start doing our own homework and drawing our own conclusions instead of forming our opinions of our lawmakers based on the media coverage.
There is plenty wrong with the government that needs to be corrected. They need to come together and start working on economic priorities (not necessarily in this order) like the job situation, balancing the budget, paying down the national debt, health care, etc., instead of continually fighting with each other. The Czars should go and Congress should go back to work. If Congress and the Senate can't agree then maybe they should have to go before a mediator or and arbitrator and be forced into making a decision. At least something would get done.
I have to get off my soapbox now."The Czars should go and Congress should go back to work." Strong words there, Linda, but drastic times demand drastic measures. ~mogama~
Great stuff Mr. Mogama, and so right on.Thank you, David, for reading, commenting. ~mogama~
You always write well and present interesting content. Me being a fire and brimstone person likes to get right to the point. As you must know, since you have read me before, in my opinion no significant change was made. We have the "conservatives" who really are a group who worry about their pockets and then we have the liberals or Democrats who are the "whats in it for me bunch". The American public must choose from hand picked candidates. If I recall there are a few other systems floating around like that. No real change in ideology. Now as for disliking our government this is where people of foreign origin most of the time go amuck. No, its the people, not the system. When two ciommunists run for office what you get is a communist. Same here, no real ideology change. Check their voting records. Oh, well enough of that rarely is that done before speaking. You can read me if you can find me but then again people like me are regulated to the sidelines. Don't want to offend but as Jesus found out, this world is not about truth but smoothing it over so as to not offend. Good job though, I always enjoy your works. Respectfully, Robert"...people like me are regulated to the sidelines. Don't want to offend but as Jesus found out, this world is not about truth but smoothing it over so as to not offend." I feel your frustration, Robert. You deserve a hearing, but we have a closed system, the two-party system, that is. ~mogama~
Great article, Mogama. I watched Barack Obama speak at his press conference, and my heart went out to him. Such a great man, with so much integrity and wisdom who doesn't want to play petty political games, but wants to get on with the job that he started - and actually is succeeding in. Maybe he's just ahead of his time.Whatever is happening in American politics - something's gotta give!"Whatever is happening in American politics - something's gotta give!" Either that, Jennifer, or the country will "give". ~mogama~
Great article Mog...God blessAnd thanks, Chiradeep, for posting comment. ~mogama~
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