Leslie Marshall

Election Returns Are Good for Republicans, Bad for America

November 2, 2010 RSS Feed Print

Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord more Dem House seats to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the state of Cali for Barbara and Jerry to take!

As I write this blog, there have been a few surprises: Joe Manchin winning a key Senate seat in West Virginia and Linda McMahon returning to her wrestling empire in Connecticut. Although Republicans wanted to blame Mr. Frank for the bad economy, it seems Barney’s gonna be back in town; D.C. that is. Arkansas paints its governor’s mansion blue and I’m sure we’ll be counting the votes in Alaska for weeks to come.

I wasn’t surprised, but delighted to hear that one of my favorite politicians, Mario Cuomo’s son, would sit in the seat his father once held. I wasn’t surprised that Christine O’Donnell lost and can go back to casting spells on all masturbators, fornicators, and homosexuals in the great state of Delaware.

[Read Susan Milligan: Christine O’Donnell, Disconnected From Reality to the End]

And I wasn’t surprised that the Republicans would take over the House. What I will be surprised by is if the Tea Party and all those conservative Americans throw out the candidates they elected today in two years if the budget isn’t balanced, if the economy isn’t thriving, if unemployment isn’t below 5 percent, if we don’t have immigration reform, more secure borders, and of course if healthcare reform isn’t repealed. (Which by the way, won’t create jobs, stimulate the economy or help us in the war on terror.)

What saddens me is not just that my party will lose control of the House; but that the party of “no” will have the power, the majority there. The party that wants this president and America to fail. The newbies or virgins to the political landscape will put their tea bags aside and get sucked up into the great machine known as Washington. Those newly elected “nonpolitical,” “non-inside the beltway,” “non-incumbents” will soon cast their votes, or block votes alongside their party--the “R” party. (Notice there’s not a “T” to be found on the ballot!?)

So while the right wing is celebrating and figuring out how to spend the next two years stopping the president from succeeding, it will hurt America. Spending the better part of next year extending the Bush tax cuts ( which never stimulated the economy or created jobs) and repealing healthcare reform, we’ll still be stuck with high unemployment, homes being foreclosed, less homes being purchased because less money is being lent. … I think you get the picture. Oh and of course, cutting spending. Less money to equip our military in Iraq and Afghanistan. Less money to hire more border patrol agents or to build a fence, less money for our infrastructure.

Rep. John Boehner said that the Americans that voted today are “patriots.” Funny, I remember when Democrats took the House in 2006 we were “un-American” for voting against our president and showing our displeasure with his policies and the growing unemployment rate and the economy slipping into a recession; which former President Bush continued to deny all the while.

So as a talk host, I look forward to pointing out the broken promises of the right, the inexperience of the virgin congressional members. As an American I weep for our country. For those who will soon be uninsured again and for the middle class who will pay for the rich to become richer. Wasn’t it Harry Truman who said he votes for the best person and the best person is a Democrat? Well today I voted for the best person.

Tags:
unemployment,
Barney Frank,
Andrew Cuomo,
Linda McMahon,
2010 election,
Christine O'Donnell,
Joe Manchin,
John Boehner,
healthcare reform,
Congress,
democratic party,
immigration reform,
healthcare,
republican party,
Tea Party

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Everyone missed the real meaning of the election

Much has been said about President Barack Obama not getting the election message, but statements by Republican leaders clearly illustrate that they, too, missed the message.

Amidst all the post-election quarterbacking, no one has seen the real story. We don’t want the change described by the Republicans or the Democrats or even the Tea Party. The election message was not about Obama or the Republicans it was about change -- change that would mean something to the American people. Change that has yet to be defined outside politics and personalities.

We want the political bickering to stop in favor of real BIPARTISAN LEADERSHIP that works on behalf of the American people not political parties.

What I heard from the election is completely different from that expressed by the parties or the media. As I watched Senator Mitch McConnell and Representatives Eric Cantor and John Boener, I didn’t hear the change we most desire. Instead I heard them say their goal was a one-term Obama presidency.

What the Republicans bold stance means to the electorate is only one thing -- a continuation of the economic and legislative gridlock that favors the political process over the good for the people.

I didn't hear the people saying they wanted more political bickering. I didn’t hear the public vote for more political and legislative gridlock. I didn’t hear the public vote to continue to be ignored. I heard the public vote for CHANGE.

That change is less about politics and more about taming the political beast that is the Washington political machine. A machine that has hijacked the issues -- lowering the deficit, health care, jobs, the economy. They are now mere proxies for the real political agenda -- empire building.

Yes, those issues matter. But without taming the political beast we are not going to get anywhere.

While the media and politicians focus on dueling personalities, they ignore the fact that there is a different meaning to change. It means changing the way the work of the nation is done. It means the boys and girls to play nicely on OUR behalf, not on the behalf of their parties. That is the change we've wanted for two decades and been disappointed every time.

The real story of the election is what this political bickering has done to the American people who have been in a 30-year decline.

We, the people, are also to blame for allowing ourselves to be so easily swayed by political rhetoric designed for elections not results that impact our lives. We are to blame for allowing our critical issues to be hijacked in favor of a political agenda that has nothing to do with us.

While Tea Partiers had an instinct that something was wrong but missed the mark. What we need is to put aside petty political agendas and work for what is best for the American people. What is best cannot be veiled in political rhetoric. It must be cast in one word. Leadership. That would be real change.

Kathryn Creedy of VT 1:56PM November 05, 2010

The only piece of information in the blog "Election Returns Are Good for Republicans, Bad for America" that I agree with, is that the same type of whining that we will hear now - we heard from the other side of the isle in 2006. Other than that, when will our politicians, our "journalists” and our TV & radio hosts realize that trying to protect the politics of any party, for whatever reason, is setting back any real change for all Americans. Yes, that's "All Americans". You can't use that phase if all you are willing to do is preach the party line & bad mouth each other in what plays out to be some of the most childish conduct we have seen from people who are supposed to be our leaders or at the very least our educated communicators. Our system is failing us and that includes the White House, Congress, State Representatives, Business leaders and our objective news media.

In respect to the editorial or "opinion" media - I get it, you have a show to put on each day. This does not give license to purposely take things out of context, sensationalize situations for ratings or for being unprofessional and/or unethical. To our objective news media - where are the lines drawn for professional journalism. It seems that if you were doctors, you might not do everything in your professional powers to provide proper care to a patient that you don't agree with - grow up and provide information in a manner in which we can't tell what you or your network's politics are.

In respect to the elections that just occurred – the system works!! Maybe not in respect to your individual wishes this year, but our freedom of speech, freedom of choice and freedom to vote was once again on display in a similar manner in which it was displayed in 2008. it is the responsibility of all reasonable Americans to push forward towards creating mutually beneficial laws, regulations & programs for as many Americans as possible ( and No, I don’t believe you can enact any program that will treat ALL Americans perfectly equal. Strive for perfection realizing that perfection is never guaranteed - that's the human condition). Any party or individual that preaches an all or nothing approach is pitting Americans against Americans. Although you never stop trying to improve your work product, you work with others that while differing in opinion shares a similar work ethic.

Bottom line - if our leaders refuse to do this, the clash of disjointed & opposing goals will and I repeat WILL cause economic and civil unrest for years to come. Is that the choice of an educated, mature, ethical and professional society - I hope not.

Ken Sillifant of NY 12:29AM November 04, 2010

All those Democrats that voted NO to obama in Congress...

All those Republicans that voted NO in Congress..

All those NOs have increased significantly. Both Democrats and Republicans. Didn’t you watch the campaign ads ?

NO is not just a Republican thing. Never was.

3 in 10 TEA are Democrat or Independent.

Obama forgot to get the budget passed. Think they can get it done in lame duck session ? Lots of scared rabbits in Congress now.

Largest turn over since WW 2. Your laughing funny. Are you tea bagging. Got something in your mouth ?

Tea have been around since Feb., 2009. They did just fine. In short order. We took seats not had in long, long time. Lost in heavy Democrat areas like DE and CA.

Your nervous laugh occurred because nothing get passed without 2 Houses. You remember Bill Clinton and Newt. Government can and if necessary will be shut down. We have our marching orders from the people. Present Congress and barry know that.

The military trial at Gitmo kind of signals more will occur. Meaning Gitmo stays open. Another promise broken for you liberals.

Sign barry will compromise. Comprised that will accelerate more. No more unread bills to vote on. Kiss your environmental nonsense goodbye.

Bill Hedges of MO 11:03PM November 03, 2010

Leslie Marshall

Leslie Marshall

Leslie Marshall is a nationally syndicated radio host heard nationwide weekdays from 7-10pm Eastern time on radio and streamed live at www.lesliemarshallshow.com. Leslie is also a Fox News contributor seen weekly on The O'Reilly Factor, America Live, monthly on Hannity and she sits in for Bob Beckel as one of the co hosts on The Five. She lives in Los Angeles.

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