Through the Palantir: The Future of Congress

36 or so hours ago, the final election for the 2006 cycle ended - the election of the new minority (Republican) leadership. Within this cycle there were multiple races - Minority Leader, Minority Whip, and Confrence Chair (A similar race too place the day before for the new Majority Party, the Democrats.) In the Republican races, the former Majority Leader (John Boehner) is now the Minority Leader, the former Majority Whip (Roy Blunt) is now the Minority Whip, the former Policy Chair (Adam Putnam) is now the Confrence Chair. Now in the Democratic races, the former Minority Leader (Nancy Pelosi) is now Speaker of the House (and the first female to hold that spot), and the former Minority Whip (Steny Hoyer) is now the Majority Leader (after defeating John Murtha for that spot, who I might add, had the backing of the New Speaker).

There has been a unmistakeable shift in leadership for what will be the 110th Congress, but the question to ask is "what does this all mean?". For Republicans, it means that they are now in the minority and will no longer weild the gavels on various committees. For Democrats it means that they now "have the power" to paraphrase from an old 1980's action cartoon involving a castle called Greyskull.

The result of the Republican elections on leadership is that the GOP may find itself in the minority for a lengthy period of time because those in leadership positions before November 7th, 2006 are still in leadership going into the 110th Congress. Why might it find itself there? The answer lies in the fact that the Old Guard has been reaffirmed, the old guard under which the Majority status that the Republicans held was lost. The voice for reform may have been squelched, and it is that voice for reform and realignment that is needed in this crucial period.

The result of the Democratic Leadership elections is that of a divided party, thanks to Speaker Pelosi throwing her weight behind a far-left figure like Murtha, who's calls for phased redeployment (withdrawl) of troops in Iraq has resounded like nails on a chalk board. She's made a back-room enemy of the new Majority Leader, her second in command, Steny Hoyer, who she also beat out for the Minority Leader post in 2001; so there is a bit of rivalry and bad political blood there.

This is the leadership makeup of the Congress as the 110th session opens in Janurary 2007, with the Democrats enjoying a 20+ seat lead over Republicans. Before one thinks that the Democrats will steamroll though, take a second look. Many of the Democrats that ran, ran to the Center/Right as conservative Democrats, even running on a more conservative platform that some Republicans. So the outcome lies with them, will they govern as they promised that they would, which would put them in bed as it were with Republicans more often than not? Time will tell.

Reguardless though, I know this: if reform and reevaluation within the ranks of the GOP does not happen, and happen soon, as the light may be dimming, then a majority exist in their name and their favor is likely not not happen for a long while. The idea that Republicans will bounce back in 2008 because the Democrats have messed up so badly that they cannot recover, is not a winning game plan (for it looks like that could be the plan at present), no, it's a blueprint for continual defeat - even if it works.

The country wants and needs leadership - leadership that is good, solid and principled. The GOP would do well to remember this and not to rely on the mistakes of their opposition, for leadership this is not, and luck it is...no matter what Obi-Wan Kenobi says...

Decision 2006: The Aftermath

It's been three days since America voted for a change in direction for the country and, I think it will bear out, for the world. The results are in and Democrats are now the majority in the House by a margin of 20+ seats and the Senate by a razor thin margin of one seat. This is a change in direction that will not have good consequences, as the governments of Eroupe, the UN, and the terrorists (including Iran) are also elated at such turn of events.

What happens now? Expect that both parties will be clamoring for the alligence of one Sen. Joe Lieberman, now an independent, as his vote may very well become the factor in many pieces of legislation (and in turn whole agendas) being pushed forward. Expect that in the Senate some Republicans will pander to certian inititives in the name of wanting to still have street cred.

In both Houses of Congress expect to see talk of bi-partisanship for a time, while behind the scenes plans are set and decisions are made to enact two of the most hyper-partisan years yet - the Dems have the gavels and they will use them. The idea here is to make the minority party look like they are being vengeful, and not wanting to cooperate, thus making hyper-partisan Democrats look like the good guys. That plan sounds much like the plan of President Amadinejad of Iran in his attempts to reach the American people and make the President look bad while he, Ahmadinejad, is the benevolent one who wants peace. Don't be suprised to see attempts at impeachment, troop withdrawl, and defunding of the military's mission against Terror in Iraq.

This is what likely will happen. The question is, what needs to happen. The answer is simple - Congressional and Senatorial Republicans need to stop acting as Republicans and start to take up the Conservative mantle again, the mantle that Regan held, and the mantle that Lincoln held when he helped to create the Republican party - get back the idea of limited government. Get back to the idea of serving the people that put the representitives there and not themselves.

Let me say that not everyone does this, but many do, as the culture and draw of this town and the lure of power and prestige often trumps ideals - don't let it.

On a final note, I've learned how personal these contests can be, in that for some of us our jobs ride on the outcomes. I've friends who are looking for a job now and I am just thankful I still have one, I still have the opportunity to serve.

On the front that is the situation in the state of Michigan, well, I only hope that the state can pull out of the economic dive it is in, and I know that the re-election of Granholm and Stabenow won't help things, I grieve for my state.

Stay Tuned as we see how much actually transpires...