The Best Congress Money Could Buy

Last night we learned that African Americans and Latinos are the most rational people in our society. We learned from Russ Feingold's defeat that newspaper endorsements do not matter. We also learned that the American voter is schizophrenic. Exit polls showed that everyone was fed up with Washington but that there was an even split on healthcare reform; and only 31% of people wanted tax cuts for the wealthy extended and another sizable portion does want any of the tax cuts extended. In fact, the plurality of the voters actually supported the Democrats' positions but voted the other way.

We also learned that unlimited, anonymous money will buy you anything--except if it's your own as witnessed by Meg Whitman's defeat. In states where Obama policies created the most jobs--in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and Pennsylvania--Democrats lost. We also learned that you can win by not saying anything and not meeting with the media. We also learned that massive organizational efforts do matter but sometimes can not overcome massive waves of attacks ads--the Swiftboat technique on steroids. And we also learned not to trust internal polls as in the case of Alan Grayson, who was whomped by a theocrat named Daniel Webster. And we also learned that the right's two year campaign of vitriol against Barack Obama worked.

The Senate didn't surprise, although by a very few votes, Democrats could have 55 seats. Joe Sestak ran a great campaign and came very close to pulling it off against Club of Greed Pat Toomey. The Democrats came a hair's breadth away from taking Illinois. My favorite campaign in Alaska simply sank. Lisa Murkowski will be the first write-in Senator since Strom Thurmond in his Dixiecrat days.

Republicans will clean up in redistricting the Congress since they won so many state houses. Haley Barbour is bragging that Republican House majorities will continue for some time.

The Washington punditry claims now Republicans have to be responsible and that Barack Obama will have to compromise with them. I'm sorry if I'm highly skeptical of this. House Republicans are very vindictive and also self-destructive. In the months ahead, you will be exposed to the craziest people who have ever served in Congress in my lifetime.

Just an observation. There is absolutely no idea being put forth by the victorious Republicans which will help the average American in any way or would help this country make the type of structural changes necessary to compete in the world. In fact, virtually everything they will try will run counter to the welfare and security of the country. And there is no ideas or policy proposals floating in conservative circles that make sense at this period of our history. Personally, all my life America has had a wide margin of error. That margin no longer exists.

It is amazing to me that the American people actually intentionally voted to decline as a nation. This has got to scare the pants off any country who is remotely our ally.

But to keep our sense of humor, just relax and enjoy the circus. The clowncar is full. The upcoming events to watch:
* John McCain's filibuster of the repeal of DADT.
*The formal request by the House for the cost estimates of deporting all illegal immigrants.
*The Vote to raise the country's debt ceiling.
*The Vote on the Highway Fund--this will be an indicator whether Republicans still believe in national development.
* The Catfood Commission failing to reach consensus on the debt reduction measures.
* The Repeal of Healthcare Reform.
* The Defunding of all regulatory agencies.
* Deflation
*The Defunding of NPR because they fired millionaire Juan Williams
*The investigation of the crimes of Barack Obama--maybe we can find out who killed Vin Foster
* Congressional action on the Foreclosure Crisis
*The Climate Change as Hoax hearings.

I'll be back for the 2012 Presidential election but I don't know whether I have the stomach to watch the upcoming car wreck. Let's all recall that the last Congress was the most productive and beneficial to the average American that we have had in over a generation. Ironically, the House paid the price for the Senate. And the Republican refusal to work with the Obama Administration paid off in spades.

We can take solace in the failure of Karl Rove to achieve his mandated task of winning back the Senate. But Karl's Crossroads America will be airing ads throughout the next few months attacking Democrats.

There will be alot of Monday Morning Quarterbacking, criticising Obama for this or that. President Obama and the Democrats paid the price of having dealt with sophisticated policy issues for the first time since the 1970s. The country lost its appetite and habit for such a view of government. It was best to continue the delusion that we are the greatest country in the world and not be self-critical. As the crowds shouted when John Boehner spoke,"U.S.A!, U.S.A!"

The most important aspect of the election and indeed Obama presidency is that we have all learned who owns America and that they will not give up any control. We await the numerous scandals from the current campaign of anonymous donors. But we do know that every oil company--domestic, foreign and private like The Koch Brothers, poured money in this campaign to stop any movement toward clean energy. Happily, the people of California defeated the attempt by these companies to repeal the climate change legislation. Also, we know that every financial firm backed the Republicans with millions to undo the Wall Street Reform. This idea will send Europe farther away from the United States because we're to blame this time for the collapse of the international financial system. These elections must put a damper on any thoughts that the United States can make the reforms necessary to remain a defining country in the world.

When you dig deep into the polls, you find that white people over 55 voted for Republicans in overwhelming numbers--especially males. It was the white man's tantrum. While Democrats see this as a temporary phenomenon that will be countered by the demographic shift in this country, I'm not so sanguine about that. We saw the eruption this election of very goonish behavior and the dying white, privileged class will take measures to forestall this event. One nice thing to see was that the younger generation--white, African-American, Latino and gays--are voting in a very similar pattern. This was not true with the older generation. We may actually be a melting pot and not know it. This election saw the strange appearance of whites playing "identity politics" as if they are threatened. Hopefully, this will disappear sooner rather than later. But don't count on it. This allows us not to debate issues of class--the last taboo subject in America.