Tonight is yet another Election Night, and it is one that will serve as a referendum on the first nine months of Barack Obama and his once heralded administration. While he remains personally popular with a slight majority of Americans, his current approval ratings are a far cry from his earlier numbers, and Republicans and conservatives will use tonight as a bellwether for what Election Night will look like a year from now given that his handling of major issues has recently been mediocre at best. In all honesty, I am looking forward to tonight’s results.
Virginia and New Jersey will hold gubernatorial races, while special elections will be held for congressional seats in New York (District 23, Watertown and Plattsburgh) and California (District 10, Walnut Creek and other eastern Bay Area suburbs). A number of mayoral races are also being decided, including the Houston mayoral race featuring four major candidates (three D’s, one R), plus two independent candidates and a Socialist Workers candidate (By the way, this is a nonpartisan race, so it really doesn’t matter which party one belongs to). There are similar City Hall showdowns as well tonight in a number of other cities, including New York, Boston, Seattle and Charlotte.
Finally, a number of propositions are up for a vote in Texas tonight on various issues that are so numerous that I cannot possibly list them all on this tiny entry. As the night goes on, I will let you know what happens. Updates are to come below.
UPDATE in Virginia @ 7:15 PM: Republican former Attorney General Bob McDonnell beats Democratic State Senator Creigh Deeds to become the next governor of Virginia.
UPDATE in New Jersey @ 7:55 PM: Incumbent Democratic Governor Jon Corzine is trailing Republican Chris Christie who leads with 52% of the vote to Corzine’s 42%. 14% of the precincts in. Independent Chris Daggett is not even a factor with only 6% of the vote.
UPDATE in Houston @ 8:50 PM: In the race to succeed outgoing Mayor Bill White, a runoff was clearly expected. And there will be a runoff between who?
UPDATE in New Jersey @ 9:50 PM: It is now projected that Republican Chris Christie, the former U.S. Attorney for the Garden State, will defeat incumbent Democrat Jon Corzine to become the next governor of New Jersey with 90% of precincts in the books.
UPDATE in Maine @ 10:30 PM: This is a top priority for LGBT and Religious Right groups (and we know all too well which side they stand on). Question 1, which aims to overturn homosexual marriage in the state of Maine, is in a dead heat with half of the votes tallied.
UPDATE in Houston @ 12:10 AM: We now know who the runoff candidates for Mayor are in Houston. And they are…City Controller Annise Parker and former City Attorney Gene Locke.
UPDATE in Texas @ 12:10 AM: All of the statewide propositions passed with over 98% of the votes in, including propositions dealing with property taxes and appraisals (Prop 2, 3 and 5), university research dollars (Prop 4), veterans’ hospitals (Prop 8), and access to public beaches (Prop 9).
UPDATE in New York City and Boston @ 12:20 AM: The incumbents stay put, as Mayors Thomas Menino of Boston and Michael Bloomberg of New York City win their hotly contested reelection bids.
FINAL UPDATE @ 1:30 AM: Democrats narrowly win congressional seat in NY-23 in the wake of a splintering of the Republican vote between the Conservative Party candidate and the GOP candidate, the latter of whom dropped out and endorsed the Democrat…Maine voters pass proposition to overturn homosexual marriage…and that’s about all I can say for tonight.
But as for tonight, a good night for the American people, independents and pragmatists, a bad night for Democrats, liberals and conservatives, and a mixed night for the GOP.
Since the beginning of Barack Obama’s presidency earlier this year, some rabid conservatives — as well as the broader conservative and center-right movement in general — have used his administration and the policies that go with it as a springboard to express a general frustration with the direction of the United States as a whole.
Some of these conservatives’ arguments have won my support — particularly the massive stimulus spending bill that all but three Senate Republicans (one now a Democrat) voted against on legitimate concerns relating to the national debt and accountability, among other issues. And some of their arguments have gained no support from yours truly — such as Sarah Palin’s belief that “death panels” are included in the Democrats’ ongoing health care legislation (which overall appears sloppy) as well as the intent of many Republicans that Medicare be left alone as is (Let’s face it: Medicare is going to have to be restructured, whether you like it or not).
And then there are some arguments that are not borderline bizarre, but just plain bizarre. This coming Tuesday, President Obama will deliver a speech to schoolchildren across the country. Contrary to what Education Secretary Arne Duncan wants you to believe, Obama’s speech, aimed at encouraging students to aspire to be productive members of society and to achieve their highest potential prowess, is not a new phenomenon in the White House. In 1991, George H.W. Bush addressed schoolchildren nationwide from a Washington D.C. school, and Ronald Reagan took part in a nationally broadcast question-and-answer session in 1986 at the White House involving high school students. Therefore, the move is not only not unprecedented, but has also been espoused by presidents associated with the Republican Party.
Yet some of the most rabid of the most rabid elements of conservative America are now crying wolf, insisting that the speech will only serve to indoctrinate impressionable children into being mindless Obamadrones. This has created a headache for school administrators across the country who are now having to decide between showing the president’s speech live and deciding not to air the speech altogether. In some districts, such as Fort Bend ISD, a quasi-libertarian approach is being taken: the decision as to whether or not the speech will be shown is up to each individual school, and dissenting students and parents have the right to opt-out.
As for where I stand, it could not be more clear. As a lifelong mainstream Republican who voted for John McCain last year (and who found himself on the wrong end of a 2-1 Obama margin among young voters), I have disagreements with Obama on a number of issues, and on some occasions I question whether the country is being run by Obama and his mostly top-rate Cabinet or by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, whose own political views are more liberal in comparison to the President. But I also have disagreements with my own party, particularly in regards to stands on some issues that I view as making the party’s stances on fiscal responsibility and limited government look hypocritical.
To that extent, I am a Republican and a mainstream conservative second. I am an American first, and my focus on issues that have broad concern. There are issues in this country that have been further compounded by a number of obstacles: a Federal Reserve in need of audit, an archaic tax code from the Stone Age, a rising national debt accumulated by bailouts and bad policies, education and health standards that may look worse for my generation as opposed to my parents’, concerns about the environment and the effects of climate change, a mess of bureaucratic red tape that has hindered the value of scientific research and entrepreneurship, compound foreign policy challenges combined with war in the Middle East, and a ticking time and money bomb on social security and Medicare.
And contrary to what some critics want you to believe, giving out a simple speech encouraging success in the classroom is not as dangerous a proposition to schoolchildren as some want to paint it. In fact, if I were President, I would have given out a similar speech encouraging students to succeed to their highest potential, regardless of their background, and accompany it with lessons appropriate for the goals of success, teamwork and responsibility. Growing up in suburban Houston, I was more than grateful to attend a school district with a diverse student population and amass a number of friendships with students and faculty from a potpourri of socioeconomic, political and cultural origins that served as a perfect example of the patchwork quilt that is the United States. The environment I was taught in taught me the importance of understanding the differences of each individual and how they can be united behind a broader movement.
Finally, while it may be a daring proposition, keeping your kids from attending school on Tuesday for legitimate reasons other than those that are medical or family-related is not a viable option. In Texas, the amount of dollars each school district receives is partly based on a student’s attendance. Given that I missed class countless times in grade school (which equates to kindergarten to fifth grade in my lexicon), the cliche “perfect attendance is our goal, don’t put your education on hold” has never been more compelling. I learned this the hard way in second grade (when those who did have perfect attendance took home 12-packs of Pepsi), and by the time high school came around, I chose to go to school even in my sickest state, against the advice of my family.
So what is the best thing a concerned parent can do? Granted that I am a bachelor, if I had children, I would give them (all in advance) an explanation of the American political system in four “Hows”:
- How the government and adjoining political structure works in America.
- How the various political parties and ideologies stand for various issues (and their effects).
- How the Constitution affects our way of life in America; and
- How one can contribute to the improvement of our country.
In other words, an explanation that amounts to a complete understanding of the four “Hows” above would serve as a more appropriate way to express to my children how the system works as opposed to the knee-jerk reactions some parents have done or are considering doing. I am encouraging parents who have expressed concerns about the president’s speech to sit down and explain the explanation above to their children in a courteous and non-controversial manner, after all, they’re just young and tender minds trying to find their place in the world. If this does not serve as a broad understanding of civics in America, then I don’t know what does.
When voters elected Barack Obama as their President last year, a period of transition defined by the ardor of change began to sweep into Washington and across the nation. After eight years of mediocre if not substandard leadership at the hands of George W. Bush (yes, there is a lot of explaining Republicans have to do when it comes to the last eight years), Americans cast their votes in anticipation of a new day in America. To prepare for this ‘renaissance’, Obama stocked his cabinet with some of the most qualified prospects one could find (some of whom turned out to be skeletons out of a closet — just ask Tim Geithner), and became the face of a promised transition from bitter partisanship to cooperative partnership.
Wait a minute, we’re talking about a transition, right? Let’s face it. The honeymoon is over.
Since taking office, promises of bipartisanship have evaporated into thin air as the Obamastration has pushed spending to levels that make even his predecessor look conservative on paper. Now to be honest, some of the projects have proven their worth. One example is the Car Allowance Rebate System — also known as “Cash for Clunkers” — which has pumped life again into an automotive industry that has faced hard times in recent years, while at the same time benefiting the environment.
As a Green Republican in my own right, I would have committed $5 billion to the project instead of the paltry $1 billion the Democrats earmarked in the beginning (which explains how far some donkeys’ own political outlooks go). There are still long-term issues, particularly in regards to the recycling of the scrapped “clunkers” as well as the availability of parts for those clunker owners who choose not to take part in the program, but for the most part it has been beneficial.
But a few billion dollars contributed to recycling old cars and their scrap while putting newer more fuel efficient ones on the road is workable compared to the bloated tune of $787 billion spent by the Obamastration on a stimulus that even moderate Republicans in the House opposed on the grounds of unchecked pork barrel spending and the politics of fear — which Obama has used on the economy in the same way Bush 43 did on national security. The cabinet Obama put together in the beginning has also devolved into a number of controversies — not the least of which includes the report on right-wing extremism that has galvanized conservatives and libertarians alike in a broad alliance. And now Republicans and both conservative and even moderate Democrats have expressed concerns about the ongoing debate over health care reform. The easiest evidence of this has been discovered around the corner and all over the country.
At town hall meetings, a traditional bastion of grassroots political discussion, Democrats have run into crowds of both liberals and conservatives who have proven themselves to be so hostile towards the incumbents that law enforcement agencies have had to intervene in places from Pennsylvania to Missouri to right here in Texas, hoping to avoid a national tragedy. And in the face of a growing divide, not only have conservative commentators such as Glenn Beck amplified their opposition against ObamaCare in response to this growing revolt, but liberal incumbents are taking this situation into their own hands, with the Speaker by the Bay, Nancy Pelosi, calling critics of health care reform “un-American”.
But where do I stand? From a personal standpoint, I find the grandstanding on health care reform from both liberals and conservatives living proof that even the most traditional political gatherings have become testy waters for the greatest debates of our time. Not surprisingly, in my opinion, the current health care package the Democrats have put out is unworkable.
And when it comes to my own Congressman, Pete Olson, I have agreed with him to this point on many issues. In a recent mailer sent to my residence, Olson provided a right way and a wrong way. In Olson’s words, the right way preserves the doctor-patient relationship, makes health care more affordable and transparent, and increases access to insurance. On the contrary, the wrong way destroys the doctor-patient relationship, imposes new tax burdens on high-income families and small businesses, and puts bureaucrats in control your health care. Where do I stand? The right way, of course, based on what I just typed.
But to liberals, Olson’s views are anathema to their concerns. While most of the town hall protests have decidedly focused on the views of conservatives who protest at Democrats’ town hall meetings, not much in the way of coverage has been seen in regards to liberals shouting from the rooftops at Republicans’ own gatherings. I do anticipate that while I have not been to a town hall meeting — for I only prefer to attend meetings hosted by my local elected officials, Olson and the other 177 Republican members of Congress will soon have to face the wrath of their more liberal constituents if they haven’t already, and therefore I may have no choice but be compelled to attend so I can articulate to the incumbent my own views in an honest and genuine manner, as opposed to taking part in the back-and-forth shouting matches the far left and the far right engage in so often.
Let’s be honest, these shouting matches only will serve to make an already perilous situation more dangerous. Families and small businesses are facing the daunting prospects of rising costs in health care, and the doctors and medical practices that cater to them don’t want to be forced to turn away their patients to please the red-tape bureaucracy.
But if the far left and far right have it their way, nothing will get done, and America will be pushed even further into the abyss, adding more fuel to the fire considering that we also have the emerging money bomb that is set to explode when social security runs out. Combined with concerns surrounding the national debt, wars in the Middle East, a potential Cold War 2.0, the evolving debate on climate change, an antiquated tax structure, the beast that exists at the Federal Reserve, concerns of national security, and constitutional and civil liberties, I can honestly say the next several years are going to be perilous times for America.
Even some of the more prominent figures on the political stage have expressed concerns about the militia mentality of town hall meetings. One person often mentioned as a potential presidential nominee for the GOP in 2012 is former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. Despite being skewered for her comments regarding the creation of ‘death panels’ in the health care reform package (and I absolutely believe there is no truth to her claim), Palin had some advice for those opposed to the ObamaCare proposal:
“There are many disturbing details in the current bill that Washington is trying to rush through Congress, but we must stick to a discussion of the issues and not get sidetracked by tactics that can be accused of leading to intimidation or harassment. Such tactics diminish our nation’s civil discourse which we need now more than ever because the fine print in this outrageous health care proposal must be understood clearly and not get lost in conscientious voters’ passion to want to make elected officials hear what we are saying. Let’s not give the proponents of nationalized health care any reason to criticize us.”
- Sarah Palin, former Alaska Governor
If Sarah Palin is one of the hottest commodities on the right and she is calling for a civil, honest discussion about a bill that is all but certain on the verge of going to a vote without giving members of Congress time to read it, why aren’t the ones who claim to follow the rustic, plain-spoken, self-described “hockey mom” taking her calls for civility? Are they not realizing that their militia mentality is going to cost the party potential supporters who are just as concerned with the situation as they are?
And I’m not being milquetoast, I’m being serious. It’s important to have a vocal conversation on the issues, but it’s even more important to do so in a manner that serves to inspire a positive, uplifting movement while at the same time getting tough on the unchecked bureaucratic traffic jam that has enveloped Washington. Be bold, be brash, and be tough about where you stand on ObamaCare, but for the love of America, don’t take it to the point where you physically harm others just because you disagree with your enemy.
After all, when has violence in the name of limited government ever been justified? Never. And I’d rather be hated for being civil when it comes to the truth about ObamaCare than be loved for over-the-top theatrics.
Disregard the notice below…this is now my new online home.
Granted, it is not what I expected it to be, and sadly it comes without the amazing stripes of the old blog. However, I am more than grateful for the opportunities this newfound digital journey has provided me, and it also gives me the opportunity to express my perspectives in a less flashy but more formal and mature manner. This may not appeal to the young at heart, but I will give it my 100% to ensure that it doesn’t look old and stale either.
For those who lament at the fact that my new site is not as attractive and exciting as the old one, don’t feel sad, be glad. Bloggers move on in life, and this move for yours truly is no exception (BTW, you can still view my old online home here). For those who rejoice at the move that I made, I gladly welcome you and hope you come back and visit soon. (Don’t forget to change your bookmarks!)
Best regards,
Kyle Stanley
If anyone notices the misrepresented, jumbled header above, that is just a temporary one.
Currently, I am in the process of moving my blog over to this site from my current one here. This is going to take some time while I work to tweak it to my own liking. In the meantime, you can catch me on my Twitter feed.
It may not be perfect, but as time goes by it will work out well.
Kyle Stanley