by John M. Curtis
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Copyright Nov. 8, 2006
All Rights Reserved.

elivering a stunning blow to the White House, American voters returned to their senses, handing Democrats back control of the House and Senate. Picking up 29 seats in the House and six seats in the Senate, Democrats completed an unexpected rout over Republicans, whose six-year reign of using the Christian right to divide the country into red and blue states ended abruptly. Beyond all the excuses, the wisdom of voters sought the kind of checks-and-balances embodied in the Constitution. With six years of GOP domination and a Supreme Court stacked to the right, the tectonic plates of common sense moved away from the extremes back toward the abandoned middle. Five years after Sept. 11, the country finally woke up that Iraq was disastrous miscalculation, costing priceless American lives, precious tax dollars and now the GOP's impregnable lock on power.

      Republican National Committee chairman Ken Mehlman explained the GOP collapse as an expected historical consequence of the incumbent's Party at a time of war. Spearheading White House chief strategist Karl Rove's master plan to assure a lasting GOP dynasty, Mehlman couldn't stop voters' disgust with the Iraq war and mounting corruption scandals beginning with the Valerie Plame affair and, more recently, ending the with GOP congressman Mark Foley's (R-Fl.) sexually explicit e-mails. When sandwiched between former House Majority Leader Rep. Tom Delay's (R-Texas) conviction on money laundering and Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff's for fraud and racketeering, voters looked for a fresh start. So-called red states went blue, not because Democrats embraced GOP values but because voters got fed up, disgusted and craved a new direction.

      When Vice President Dick Cheney told ABC's “This Week” with George Stephanopoulos, “it was full steam ahead on Iraq,” voters saw firsthand the White House was still committed to “stay the course.” Cheney promised that politics or polls wouldn't drive the administration's course in Iraq, galvanizing voters to send President George W. Bush a strong message on Election Day. Yet before all the votes were officially certified, Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld took the fall, announcing his resignation. Replacing him with former CIA director Robert Gates shuffles the deck but doesn't deal with Bush's stubborn belief that the Iraq war is winnable. In his post-election news conference, he recited the same worn out talking points that without winning, Iraq would become a breeding ground for future attacks on American streets.

      Bush hasn't caught up or doesn't care about public opinion that doesn't buy his theory that U.S. security is tied to winning in Iraq. If Nov. 7 is any guide, the public believes Bush's approach to fighting the war on terror needs an urgent overhaul. Looking humbled and answering more tough questions, Bush held out an olive branch to House Minority Leader and now incoming Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). She has been one of Bush's most vociferous critics. Now faced with working together, Pelosi walks a dangerous line satisfying her Party's need for revenge against paving the way for the 2008 presidential elections. If subpoenas fly like confetti and the House gets mired in pettiness, it could hurt the “new beginning” hoped by voters. Moderates, Independents and crossover Republicans don't want to see Pelosi lock horns with Bush over the next two years.

      Right wing strategists are reeling from yesterday's bad news but poised to begin the long slog back. While Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) cruised to a second term and waits to announce her expected presidential bid, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean can't allow today's euphoria to eclipse the mission of taking back the Oval Office. Democrats had one good day but must accept the confluence of factors leading to Tuesday's results. Bush's low approval ratings, the Iraq war and mounting GOP scandals gave Democrats an opening to earn back their credibility. Most races, while leaning toward Democrats, were close, fiercely competitive and evenly divided. Since Sept. 11, the White House has done a masterful job promoting Republicans as strong and Democrats as weak. Democratic leadership must support candidates that can unify the country.

      GOP problems stem not from historical trends but from inept and unethical actions taken by a few intoxicated with power. Swinging the pendulum back to Democrats helps create more balance in a lopsided government. Pelosi and the Democrats must also not allow today's euphoria to blind them from delivering real results. More investigations, acrimony and scandals won't pave the way for a better outcome, as they look to '08. Tuesday's results give Democrats a mandate to begin the complicated process of extricating the U.S. from the mess in Iraq. Bush is right saying that America's enemies are still scheming and plotting the next attack. Now that Democrats get their chance, it's time to focus on the right enemy. Bush couldn't get it done over the last five years. Nov. 7 should get the country back on track to deal with real threats to national security.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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