Critical Mass

Obviously, I am disappointed with the outcome of the election. However, there are a few consolations for me, and they are unrelated to the current issues.
 
At one level, regardless of the issues specific to this election, a turnover of power in Congress is no surprise; indeed, it was somewhat expected. This is simply the ebb-and-flow of politics. The Republicans controlled Congress for 12 years, before which the Democrats controlled it for a long while. The 2004 election was historic partially because the party of the incumbent president maintained (even grew!) its electoral advantage in Congress. That almost never happens. Totally separate from the issues (because I definitely believe Republicans are far more capable of running this country than Democrats), and looking at it from a purely institutional/structural/theoretical standpoint, I am actually somewhat glad that the ruling party of 12 years has been traded in for another. It's democracy at its finest, and it re-asserts an incredible truth about this country--that every two or four years a new government comes into power, and it is always-- always!--peaceful. Even in 2000, when Democrats were crying foul and whining like infants, nobody was ever actually worried about someone lobbing a grenade into a crowd of Bush supporters or storming the U.S. Supreme Court. It's quite another story in many other countries around the world.
 
The way I see it, the Republicans have in some cases reaped what they have sown. And make no mistake, the Democrats will reap theirs as well. Hopefully they will screw their heads on tight for the next couple years and make some good leadership decisions. Thankfully, the democratic process lives on, and even though we have lost an election, we have not been defeated.
 
James Taranto, editor of the Wall Street Journal's opinion page website, has an analysis of the election results. It's quite good, and he gives some reason for optimism. Read it at the link below.
 
http://www.opinionjournal.com/best/?id=110009215