American Election Coming Along Just Fine

"Opinion"

09/07/2008

Paul Munnis


There is no question about it. The American people are in the process of divorcing themselves from the GOP.

As in all divorces there are lots of “He Said” -- “She Said” moments.

Emerging from the squabble are a set of consensus positions arising from our national negotiation that we call “campaigning.” The negotiations are in full swing and the process has produced a divorce settlement and social contract for the future.

For example both Parties:

• Accept that there will be alternative energy development and funding for it.



• Agree there will be off-shore drilling performed.



• Agree that like it or not our troops are coming home from Iraq, on a time-table, and that the Obama position on withdrawal has become the accepted position by Iraq.



• Agree that the War in Afghanistan must be won and that it is not currently being won because of too few troops in the field.



• Agree that Iraq War was badly mismanaged in all respects by the GOP.



• Agree that G.W. Bush was bad for America and has left us weaker as a nation and that John McCain has been a key cheerleader for Bush policy.



• Agree the economy is a mess and that the GOP created that mess.



• Agree that several issues will have to be resolved by the election itself. Among those are Social Security, Medicare, and National Health Insurance.



• Agree that our military must be rebuilt.



• Agree that the GOP has created a credit and financial crisis in America that is destroying investment and damaging home equity.



• Agree that the War on Terrorism must be continued.



• Agree that paper ballots leaving a clear trail of accountability are needed and will be supplied for 2008.



• Agree that the American auto industry needs to be rescued.



• Agree that we need new and better investment producing quality jobs for America.



• Agree that both Blacks and Women voters have asserted themselves during this election and that there is no going back on the civil rights of these groups.



• Both Parties accept that “Change must come to Washington.”



• Thye finally agree that we are in a recession.



• They agree that taxing the middle-class further is not the answer to a recession.



• Agree that the GOP economic policies are a disaster and have hurt the middle class, damaged our infrastructure, and weakened our economy.



• Both Parties agree that the lack of GOP oversight and supervision of key Agencies has weakened our American government. Examples are Labor, the SEC, the FAA, and our Justice Department.

Thus some national agreements have emerged while others are agreed to be resolved by voters by their Party selection come the November balloting. The Parties are ready for Jury and the rest now lies in the hands of voters.

Squabbles will continue and some debate lies ahead and maybe a final issue or two can be resolved but the campaign is shifting gears even as the GOP realizes that the divorce is final. We are past shock, emerging from anger, and moving towards acceptance.

To continue the analogy: Democrat Hillary is the woman scorned while Sarah Palin is the new woman.

There is no question that the remaining election issues that are key lie in the make-up and composition of the 111th Congress and in the juxtaposition of which Party controls the White House. How that mix is tilted will determine the final ability of either Party to implement promised change.

There is no question that Democrats have taken the lead in forging consensus. As the GOP watches its own record hang them with voters they have been forced to change their position for they can no longer deny their failure in governing America..

In the meantime the election has produced a list of politicians that are candidates for the political graveyard and who are running in hope that their Party will get elected and give them a future. Among them are Lieberman, Giuliani, Thompson, Huckabee, Pawlenty, Romney, and Palin. The media is left with mainly scandal to peddle as they sop up the last of the election ad spending revenue.

The few debates remaining seem as anticlimax. Getting out the vote becomes key as Youth and Blacks are needed while mid-America is expected to turn out to vote in force.

America is just about ready to vote and the divorce is about to become final.