Okay, the election is over. The Democrats have won the house, while the senate, as of this writing, hangs on the outcome in Virginia. As George W. described it, the cumulative effect of it was getting a "thumpin'". Immediately, Donald Rumsfeld is gone. That's good news.The bad news is that all this was necessary.
Look, I'm a lifelong Republican. In college I was a campaign volunteer for Gerald Ford. I've only voted for two Democratic candidates in my life. (if you want to know: Ford, Reagan, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Dole, Bush, Kerry.) I'm not happy about having to split with, and in the last two elections advocate against, my party.
As has been said before in other places, I did not leave my party, my party left me. In recent years it has been captured by ideologues, and they've taken it in directions I find dangerous and thoroughly destructive.
Maybe, just maybe, with this election things have bottomed out. I hope so.
