One of the great recurring themes in literature and entertainment is the consequences of getting your fondest desire. In the classic tale “The Monkey’s Paw,” a couple is granted three wishes — but each comes with a terrible price. The law of unintended consequences is pretty much insurmountable, and the old saying “be careful what you wish for — you just might get it” is very sound advice.
Right now, the Democrats seem to have a solid — but narrow — majority in the House of Representatives, and a good shot at taking the Senate. They’be been saying that if they could just get the votes, they’d be able to solve a lot of our problems.
Well, now they’ve got their chance. Let’s see what they’ve got.
Of course, they don’t have a solid lock on power. Their majority in the House is very narrow, and will be even tighter in the Senate, even if they take the last two undecided seats. Plus President Bush might find just where the Clinton administration hid the “VETO” stamp (I suspect it ended up with the “W”s from White House computer keyboards) and start using it.
But it will be interesting to see them try. To see what they will push for, what they will propose, what their answers will be. They will have to remember that the Republicans not only have the votes to sustain presidential vetoes, but will be able to filibuster and toss up all the legislative log jams the Democrats have been using for the last 12 years.
So, where will they go from here?
I see two ways. The first is to move forward, to accept the way things are and work to change and improve them. To find solutions that will have appeal across party lines and actually might stand a chance of passing.
The alternative I see is the way I fear things will go, the way that the omens and augurs portend: to try to erase as much of the last six years as they can. To undo the actions, decisions, and policies since the beginning of the Bush administration.
Bush’s tax cuts? Get rid of ’em.
Invasion of Iraq? Get the hell out as soon as possible.
Bush’s very elections? Impeach him.
It’s fantasy. The moving hand hath writ, and no matter how much the Democrats wish and hope and try, they can’t unwrite history.
Fantasy is nice. It’s comforting. It’s warm and fuzzy. But it’s downright dangerous as political policy.
There’s one bright side out of all this, however. For at least the foreseeable future, I ought to have a plethora of material to blog about. Just like George W. Bush’s election was a huge boon to late night comics and the best thing that could have happened to Stephen Colbert, a House of Representatives headed up by Nancy Pelosi, John Murtha, Alcee Hastings, Charles Rangel, and their ilk promises to be a huge blessing to bloggers.
And if all else fails, I can just take this piece I wrote about a year and a half ago and update it. It has a certain timeless appeal.
One thing is guaranteed: it won’t be dull.
Lets celebrate, free abortions for everyone (even the guys).
Donkey’s paw? You should rename this “Elephant’s ass” instead.
Bush tax cuts – will be reapportioned so that middle class America gets a tax cut a the expense of the rich.
The quagmire in Iraq – it’ll be hard road ahead to solve the problems created by Bush and company, but getting rid of Rumsfeld is the first step. he should resign today. He won’t – we’ll have to run him out of town. Not to worry, Democrats are up for the task, and Bush will be able to pick his successor.
Impeach Bush? No, this is off the table, remember? But I do expect he’ll be tried on war crimes after the ’08 election.
Other than you getting it wrong as usual, Jay, this was a very entertaining post.
Watch for:
More leaks of classified information coming from sources within the Senate and House Intelligence Committees.
Suppression of Ethics Investigations of Dems, and the instigation of ‘investigartions’ of Republicans. (With selected leaks appearing in the NYT)
Sabotaging the economy enough to use as an issue in the 2008 campaign, so as to elect more Dems and get Hillary in the WH.
OK Lee…simple question
What are the definitions of ‘rich’ and ‘middle class’?
I don’t know, Lee, I think Jay has it more on par than you do. The Democrats won’t be helping the middle class any… taxes are going to go up. Even Dems in office expect the un-doing of Bush’s tax breaks. Economists predict a slumping economy/stocks with the Dems in control of Congress. The Dems have NO plan on terrorism or Iraq that I’ve seen, other than “Let’s get out now” (as trumpeted by Dean last night)… etc. It’s a shame that the war is going so badly- people want change, but it’s going to screw the USA hardcore.
I couldn’t be happier. Maybe *now* the Republicans will rethink the wisdom of making that fat feckless fuck Hastert their poster-child?
In politics, winning never leads to change, and we were never gonna get anything but more-of-the-same from the Republican Party unless we were willing to dump their lame, earmarking asses.
People forget that you have exactly *zero* political power unless your vote is seen to be *in play*.
SS
“I see two ways. The first is to move forward, to accept the way things are and work to change and improve them. To find solutions that will have appeal across party lines and actually might stand a chance of passing.”
Too bad the Republican Party could not have followed your advice. Arrogance and incompetence is a fatal combination. Now the question to me is “Where do we go from here?” Both parties are not listening to the American people. The democrats are starting to respond by putting up more middle of the road candidates. Will the Republicans respond in kind? They better or this downward spiral will continue.
Hermie (re tax cuts) – I don’t have an opinion as to where the breaks should occur in hard, absolute dollar terms, but my definitions are irrelevant. The definitions that matter to that issue are those that will be forged democratically in the House and Senate.
I’m sure there will be lots of discussion on Wizbang regarding various proposals. I’m sure I’ll have an opinion on their merits, and will be happy to share it then.
I expected this to happen. It doesn’t make it any easier to see these feces-flinging monkeys running around laughing themselves sick.
Enjoy, barney, Lee, jp, nogo and all the rest of you traitors. You won. Now you’ve got your fondest wish. You can stab the troops in the back (they deserve it, too, those killbots – when they’re not the second coming of Jenjis Khan, they’re stoopid grammar skool kidz). You can prove OBL right – kill enough Americans, hold on long enough for the terrorist-supporting media to declare “quagmire,” and America will cut and run. Screw the Iraqis – we’ve got to impeach Bush (yeah, sure that’s off the table, Lee – just another leftie lie).
You can pretend Bush lied. You can pretend there were no WMDs. You can pretend OBL and Saddam had no connection whatever. You won – you can rewrite history now.
The country’s yours. The power is yours. Hope you choke and die.
Regardless of lofty intention, the world sees yesterday’s vote as a referendum on the mettle and fortitude of the American people and we have come up short. Muslims around the world now know that America doesn’t have the character, determination or stamina to fight a protracted war. We have shown our most fearsome foe our weak underbelly.
Nevertheless, I see a wonderful business opportunity for some of the folks advertising on WizBang. If they hurry they can still make the Christmas season. The product is a prayer rug with an American flag on top but with the Muslim Crescent over it. The rug includes a user guide so that Americans will know the direction to Mecca from their location. This will be a wonderful gift for our liberal friends and co-workers, and in a decade or so, they may actually need it.
“The country’s yours. The power is yours. Hope you choke and die.”
The country is no more “ours” than it was “yours” before the election, moron. Buy a clue.
I hope your country doesn’t go down the toilet TOO fast over the next couple of year. I want to visit at some point, while it’s still nice.
Actually I don’t think the flip-flopocrats have enough of a majority to screw it up yet, but I could be wrong.
I sure don’t feel the government represents me, Lee. Feeling that way, the country is indeed yours. What do I have to look forward to? More of my hard-earned money taken away and put to use in things I have no agreement with? A military being pulled out of Iraq before success, to be brought home dejected and feeling like it was all for naught? (and of course, the subsequent chaos in Iraq which the Dhimmocrats will blame Bush for?) Legalization of late term abortion (among other moral issues)? The freedom to publicly believe in God? The Dhimmocrats talk about personal freedoms, but they take so much away from the people. I feel very depressed and dejected about the direction the country will be going.
Why does it feel like Al Qaeda just got elected to majorities in the House & Senate?
Fantasy is nice. It’s comforting. It’s warm and fuzzy. But it’s downright dangerous as political policy I couldn’t have said it any better…Voters said that corruption was their biggest concern..Democrats may not be able to rewrite the history of the the last 6 years. Who would want to? but they should now be in position to make the Executive and Congress more accountable..Let’s see..it would be refreshing to try.
Tell me Lee, what is the democratic position on the WOT? Have to give me some specifics. Otherwise you are just coming off as a pompous ass right now. If you think that is the way are you going to win in 2008, better get used to a two year Pelosi term.
Lee:
Boy, that would have made much more sense given that the title was alluding to the tale ‘The Monkey’s Paw’. I bet your freshman comp. papers were absolutely brilliant. /snide
Hate to correct you, Steve, but the way the Democrats will win in ’08 is illustrated by your comment. Calling Americans who disagree with you names is what brought Democrats out in record numbers. It’s un-American, and your party has been spanked. Learn from it.
Getting rid of Rumsfeld is job 1. Are you going to support that or fight it, Steve? Rumsfeld has mismanaged this situation from 9/11 on. Are you adult enough to admit that now, or is that hat you’re wearing a bit too tight, and choking off the blood flow to your brain?
Calling you a pompous ass brought out democrats? Get over your ego Lee. Keep shoveling out your little platitudes.
I thinks what happened yesterday was Americans showed that we have stopped being so afraid…of everything..oh sure a small minority still beat that drum but not as many listen anymore..
When Rove had to shout “Fear Nancy P” in his last scrambling moment he had reached bottom…
What we witnessed was the dissalution of the OZ Republican Party…I doubt in will happen by 08..(ya know it’s gonna get real mean)but at some time the Real Republican Party will form again. Let the “I so afraid” hate mongers form their own party or just drop out.
It appears the sneaky hippies were successful. They slipped acid into the nations water supply (that Bush can’t protect)and the USA is a nation of Moonbats.
Expect another terrorist attack soon.
As resident Wizbang! liberal and sometime geek, I regret that I have but two comments to give on behalf of my party:
YATTA!!
and
Neener-neener-neener.
That is all.
–|PW|–
In maintaining your focus on me, Steve, your forgot about rumsefld.
EXACTLY the problem that lost you the election. Focusing on fighting Democrats instead of cleaning house by admitting to the mistakes made in the GWOT, and fixing it.
You still don’t get it, do you? You illustrated my point perfectly — you ask me what to do to fix the GWOT, and then attack me rather than address my suggestion. Your fixation on attacking me is blinding you to the choices that need to be made.
Conservatives may take heart in the law of unintended consequences ..Should the Dems pick up the Senate, and the Chairmanship of Committees, having to listen to the likes of John Kerry ad nauseum “We have made history tonight, because we have elected, for an unprecedented ninth time, the greatest Senator in the history of the United States Senate, Ted Kennedy.. may drive many independents back to the Republican fold, in time for 2008.
To the “cut and run” & RINO republicans (and yes you wishy washy squishy moderates), you are about to reap what you didn’t sow.
Increased terrorists activity in Iraq & Israel which will equate to more deaths of our soldiers and civilians.
Impeachment procedings against George Bush.
Repeal of tax cuts which will slow down the economy and growth.
Hope you sleep well the next two years.
You can stab the troops in the back (they deserve it, too, those killbots – when they’re not the second coming of Jenjis Khan, they’re stoopid grammar skool kidz)
Actually cmd, they get to stab the troops in the front now. They’ve been stabbing them in the back by supporting the terrorists, cheering on the death toll, not supporing anything Bush offers. Now, with control of the finances, they can cut funding of Iraq and leave the troops hanging. Their cries of Vietnam with be fulfilled as they cut funding, just like in 1974 and Iraq will fall like South Vietnam. At least the troops get to look forward to another scar on the Mall in fifteen years. Maybe they can place it under that newly finished mosque.
Steve – here’s another illustration for you.
When the NYT’s published reports on problems with the NSA bank snooping American conservatives attacked their fellow Americans, rather than fixing the problems.
If there had been Republican oversight of what the administration was doing there wouldn’t have been the leaks and publication in the first place, but rather than agreeing and providing the oversight the Republicans instead attacked their fellow Americans, labeling them as traitors. The attacks came straight from the White House.
Americans wont’ stand for this any longer. This is “our” country, not “yours” or “mine”, and since Republicans refused to fix their problems, you lost the election.
Keep it up, I don’t mind. The campaign for the ’08 elections starts today. You’re losing so far, but don’t fix that –attack your fellow Americans instead. Don’t kick out Rumsfeld — defend him to the death. It’s ok with me.
This might be a more interesting two years than anybody realizes. Among the (potentially) elected Democrats are Heath Shuler (Curse of the Redskins, pro-life, pro-gun rights), Bob Casey Jr. (pro-life), and Jim Webb (former Reagan official, “blood and soil” conservative).
As I understand it, there’s a small cadre of “Democrats” who are actually Republicans disaffected by the Iraq war, profligate spending, and other issues — essentially Republicans who ran as Democrats because they believe the (R)s aren’t Republicans anymore.
–|PW|–
The thing to hold hope on to is this wasn’t a “fake right, run left” Democrat campaign.
After years of “running the same left play” and losing over and over, it is clear Democrats had no choice but to run right this time in order to win. Was it a fake right? We’ll see once the “whip” comes down on the new D’s. Will they vote with Nancy or their constituents?
The Republicans that have been stomping their feet and said they were “sitting this one out” are now relying on the strategy that Democrats will finally expose their agenda’s and turn the voters off by 08′. In the mean time Republicans will be forced to return to party principles that is the real appeal to garner votes.
My fear is the damage that can be done while Republicans are in rehab from their drunken spending spree.
1994 was many, many moons ago so many don’t remember why those bums were thrown out. It was because of “tax and spend liberalism”, “the welfare state”, “socialism” and many other things and Clinton read the writing on the wall that this country isn’t that left wing.
So my hope is like the guy who gets fired from work. It isn’t an end but a new beginning.
I didn’t want the foot stomping “I’m sitting this one out” Republicans to prevail. But now I’m forced to “hope they were right”.
Time will tell.
I’m off on the timing. Siagon fell in 1975 and the scar showed up in 1982. Therefore, the new scar will come in 10 years, not fifteen. The dhimmicrats should still have a mosque built on the Mall by then.
The truly positive result is seeing Joe L defeat the Democratic Party. If there are enough solid thinkers who oppose the status quo in the Senate and House, then we might have a chance to survive the next two decades still a world economic and military power.
If not, the decline and fall will continue.
In recent days, the Dow hit record highs. It’s unlikely that we’ll see a black Wednesday with the Dow dropping like Saddam through a trap door in a noose. But don’t expect a hot economy when businesses are bled to death in higher taxes. Out go the jobs and up goes the unemployment rate. Don’t come crying and begging for a job from me you suckers. You asked to stand in an unemployment line. Now you got it.
PW:
That’s what many seem to be missing. This wasn’t really a liberal victory as I see it being painted. The strategy that won was running relatively conservative Democrats. Given that, it’ll be interesting to see how things go for Speaker Pelosi.
Republicans who ran as Democrats because they believe the (R)s aren’t Republicans anymore.
That makes no sense. Maybe run as Independants but Democrats? Sounds more like a Democrat taking a moderate position to get elected.
It’s fantasy. The moving hand hath writ, and no matter how much the Democrats wish and hope and try, they can’t unwrite history.
But perhaps like the neocons they can attempt to rewrite history — lie, exaggerate, ignore facts, kiss the devil’s ass and call it honey.
You said something here the other day about the general conviction amongst the liberals that killing terrorists would breed more terrorists, and just how wrong that was.
And you know — on some level, thick as you can be sometimes — that the killing of civilians by Americans is what those of us who do not live by our lies mean when we say that the war in Iraq breeds terrorists — that the death of enemy soldiers in American-run prisons would demonstrate to the world that our fine words about democracy were just piles of imperialist shit — I could go on. I probably will, at some point. But your analysis was the merest neocon fantasy, a fascist prayer leaving out the real-world consequences of starting a war with a small country that has not attacked you — and this in presence of the world’s media organs.
Fantasy, did I say? Idiocy.
Fantasy is nice. It’s comforting. It’s warm and fuzzy. But it’s downright dangerous as political policy.
Borrow-and-spend is fantasy, Jay. Running a war by saddling your children and grandchildren with debt is moonshine. Water does not run uphill.
Going to work; have a nice day.
“This country is no more ‘ours’ than it was ‘yours’ before the election, moron.”
Really, Lee? So all those screams I heard from your side wailing that you had to “take our country back” from the Rethuglikkans were just a lie? Glad to see you admit it.
But like I said, asshat – enjoy your time in the sun. Somewhere in a cave, Osama is smiling.
“Going to work; have a nice day.
Posted by: astigafa at November 8, 2006 09:19 AM”
You better hope you have a job next year.
VagaBond:
Terrorist attack. Expect another one soon. By voting for Democrats, American voters have proven their disdain for this country and their support for terrorists such as Saddam who killed innocent women and children. American voters have now proven their fear of terrorists by voting for a cut-and-run change in congressional leadership against our policy to stop them. This will now inspire and energize the terrorists to do MORE harm to the US, not less. Like school yard bullies, we will now let them beat more innocent people to death (literally!). The clock is ticking. There will be another terrorist attack and this time we have only ourselves to blame. And when it happens (and it will – mark my words) those that voted for the terrorists better not come crying on my shoulder. How soon we have forgotten 9/11. No more sypathy or donations from me.
To the poster above who referred to the vast majority of americans who voted Democratic as “Traitors”
No, asshole. They are Patriots. They saved our democracy.
We now have amnesty for Al Quaeda! nuff said.
Lee,
Ignore these assholes – THEY’RE NOTHING BUT SORE LOSERS!! HAHAHAHAHA… [snip]
Now tell us, gentle readers. Who lost the election for you? Was it the MSM, or George Bush’s failed policies across the board? Remember, in order for the Democrats to give you the bruising they did yesterday, many Republicans and Independents voted for Dem candidates too.
You lost – get over it.
My pullback started.
Selling stock and cancelled projects. Layoffs will start Monday. I see no continuing growth in the economy.
Thank God
The country is heading in a new direction!
Nancy Pelosi is a fighter and a history maker. Just look at what she’s done for the Democratic party. She has led them to V.I.C.T.O.R.Y.
The look of total shock on some faces of Republicans were “P.R.I.C.E.L.E.S.S.”
READ IT AND WEEP!
PW…
I don’t know enough about your races to comment. To run as a Moderate Democrat instead of a Republican is just disguising who you are to win an election. That turns my stomach.
“The country is heading in a new direction!”
Yes it is. I just called and cancelled a $17,000 flooring project. I was going to upgrade a building from carpet to ceramic and granite floors. Not now. The economy will soon tank.
Vagabond:
It may “turn your stomach,” but it’s the way politics is played, especially if you’re looking at a district in which the incumbent is solidly entrenched and hasn’t done anything excessively stupid or icky in the last two years.
–|PW|–
Check the exit polls and you see that yesterday’s vote was a referendum on the Iraq war. Voters wanted to send a message to Bush, but what they don’t realize is that in the eyes of the Muslim world, yesterday’s vote was a referendum on the character of the American people. The message we sent is that we are lacking in heart, fortitude and courage. That we are not up to the task of defeating Islamic radicals. The American people voted to cut and run.
Today true conservatives should take their American flag down from the pole and place it on the ground in front of their door. The date 9/11 has gone down in history as the date radical Islam challenged America and the date 11/7 will go down in history as the date America lost that challenge. Who wins in 2008 doesn’t much matter as the course we set yesterday is likely irreversible. I can never again support sending troops to war knowing that the American people will cut and run before the job is done. All we have now is bluff, and not much of that. Go ahead and cut the defense budget; we don’t really need a military we don’t have the courage to use.
This year I’m giving prayer rugs to all the cut and runners on my Christmas list.
“Go ahead and cut the defense budget; we don’t really need a military we don’t have the courage to use.”
So true. We should change our name from the United States of American to South Canada.
maggysturn coughed up and said’
You lost – get over it.
Why? The Democracts lost 12 years ago and never got over it. They continually cried about how they were cheated and elections were stolen. Let’s see how the Republican losers respond, will they be spewing about how the election was stolen? Somehow I doubt it.
Then justice58 erupted with,
Nancy Pelosi is a fighter and a history maker. Just look at what she’s done for the Democratic party. She has led them to V.I.C.T.O.R.Y.
That remains to be seen. But if you think the winning of the election was her doing, you are already delusional and beyond hope.
Oh and for the perennial troll Lee, now that you have your highly ethical party in power, will they be bringing William Jefferson up on ethics charges? The clock is ticking . . .