The Conservative Revolution

The Democrats have what they desperately wanted: power. Throughout the past six years of the Bush presidency they have criticized, pontificated, complained and cursed about Republican control of the government and our post-911 foreign policy.

Now, the people have spoken and the Democrats have their chance. It will be interesting to watch and see whether the far-left can push Pelosi and company to move for impeachment of Bush, to pull our troops out of Iraq and to push through a socialist domestic agenda.

I, for one, actually doubt that the Democrats will do these things. But perhaps I am giving them too much credit. If they want to stay in power and win the presidency in 2008 they should probably not become the party of revenge. Rather, they should pass legislation that deals with real issues, economic and social, domestic and foreign policy, and let the American people decide whether or not they want the Democrats to control the government in 2008 and beyond.

Republicans

As for the Republican party, it needs to return to its professed roots of limited government, lower taxes and more freedom. I urge everyone to call their Representative and ask them to support conservatives for minority leadership positions. It’s time for new blood. Please support Mike Pence, John Shadegg and Marsha Blackburn for leadership positions in the House. (minority leader, whip, and conference chairman)

The War

With Rumsfeld’s resignation I fear that we are reverting to a realist, realpolitik foreign policy led by men like James Baker, Robert Gates, Brent Scowcroft and Henry Kissinger. If that is what is required to make things better in Iraq, so be it. But isn’t this method of dealing with the world partly to blame for getting us into the trouble we are in? Making deals with the evil regimes of Iran, North Korea, Syria and Saudi Arabia won’t make us any safer. It will only “stabilize” the Middle East temporarily. At least until the next attack on our homeland.

These next couple of years will be interesting to watch, and just as frightening as the previous five years.

Here is Dick Armey’s take on the midterm elections. He says in this piece that this election was the “end of the revolution.”

Moving forward, my advice to Republicans is simple: Don’t go back and check on a dead skunk. The question Republicans now need to answer is: How do we once again convince the public that we are in fact the party many Democrats successfully pretended to be in this election? To do so, Republicans will need to shed their dominant insecurities that the public just won’t understand a positive, national vision that is defined by economic opportunity, limited government and individual responsibility.

Armey concludes,

To voters I say: Demand substance and you will get it. To Republican candidates for office I say: Offer good policy and you will create a winning constituency for lower taxes, less government and more freedom.

You can follow the discussion about this piece over at Free Republic.

The Washington Post has a good write-up of the results thus far.

Nancy Pelosi will likely become the Speaker of the House, and the Democrats will be able to push their agenda, including a minimum wage increase. I am curious as to whether they will cut off funding for the war in Iraq, try to impeach the President or take part in some other shenanigins. We shall see.

Meanwhile, Sen. George Allen and James Webb are in a fight that could last weeks. I hope not. But this race very well could determine the fate of the Senate.

Here is the clip.Armey told Keith Olberman that “the chickens have come home to roost.”

To see what FreedomWorks believes the Republicans must do to regroup and get back into power, read this.

This weekend I am doing Get-Out-the-Vote activities in Chester County, PA. I have joined with some local activists and others who have come from all over the country to work on the PA Senate race between Santorum and Casey.

I am impressed by the hard work and good attitude of my fellow grassroots activists. The midterm election will be hotly contested this year. PA is beautiful, and I am enjoying walking the neighborhoods and meeting the locals here.