Midterms and Insanity

I can’t believe how short and selective some, or according to recent polling, most Americans’ memories are. Logically, one couldn’t be blamed for thinking that the Republican Party would be banished from power for possibly a generation after leaving us in 2008 with massive and historically-high debts, two questionable and unpopular wars and an economy in shambles teetering on collapse

But with less than 40 days now until the 2010 midterm elections, voters appear ready to give the legislative branch back to the GOP, whose leaders don’t even say they’re bringing anything new to the table. In fact, they’re promising more of the same disastrous policies they generated while holding power during the eight years of the Bush Administration.

Now, Americans historically vote against the party in power during midterm elections, and I fully expected that trend to impact the Democratic Party this fall. But not to the extent that is being forecasted by pundits and polls.

I just would wish folks would remember that some things take time. President Barack Obama can’t twitch his nose like Elizabeth Montgomery did on “Bewitched”, and suddenly make all our problems disappear.

Don’t get me wrong! Obama has been disappointing on many fronts. But I do give him some credit. I think he stopped the economic free fall, and a few things are starting to improve. Remember, most of his stimulus programs are not scheduled to kick in until next year. I really believe 2011 will be a year of genuine economic growth and lower joblessness.

Experience from the last decade tells us that Republican policies don’t work. Many wise people have said trying something again that’s known to fail is the very definition of INSANITY.