The Midterm Election: "As Expected" or "What A Surprise?"

The election cycle is now over (halleluiah). Well at least for the next 14 to 18 months before it all begins again with the next Presidential Elections at which point we will once more be inundated with negative campaign advertisements, more shallow and hollow promises and lest I forget, more political scandal. The Democrats finally succeeded in doing something that they have been waiting twelve long years to accomplish - retake control of both houses of Congress. Something they have not had since 1994 and the "Republican Revolution" and the "Contract with America". Is it just me or does anyone else feel that nothing will really change. Oh sure we will have a new Speaker of the House. It will be a historic day at that. The first time that we will have had a female Speaker - Nancy Pelosi no less. Possibly the most liberal member of the House even though she tries to portray herself as a moderate. Make no mistake about it. Even though some or many of the new faces to be elected came off as moderates or even ran as conservatives, the Democrats will try to roll back many of Bush's tax cuts and impose new restrictions on gun ownership. But the Republicans are still a force to be reckoned with as they are a large minority in both houses and hold enough votes to block any attempt to overide a Presidential veto. There will still be many dubious and shady deals cut in back rooms of Capital Hill and the House and Senate Office buildings. Pork Barrel spending will remain if not increase under the Democrats. Why? Because there are too many members of Congress concerned only with the Special Interests and how much they can contribute to their campaigns war chests, and also because too many American voters don't care enough to go to the polls to exercise their constitional right to vote for the candidates that will do the most good. It is long past time to get some new blood in these stolid old seats of Congress. Let's throw all the bums out and start over with a clean slate. Then maybe, just maybe, we can get something meaningfull done. Wishfull thinking? Perhaps, but at least it is a place to start.