We're back on track!

Sitting avidly in front of the news last night, I pretty much burst into tears when Tennessee went to the Republican candidate. The house had already gone to the Democrats (Nancy Pelosi! woot!!), and it all really weighed on the Senate. 49 Republicans, 48 Democrats, three states still counting: Missouri, Montana and Virginia. Democrats needed all three to get the Senate. Otherwise Cheney's vote would be the deciding vote on most matters...... a thought too terrifying to even ponder for very long.

I stayed up late, waiting for the last votes to be counted. When I started in sniffle every couple minutes at the prospect of a Republican senate (and an abysmally blind American people), I realized that I needed to go to sleep. I would have to wait till the next morning to learn the (possibly terrible) election outcome. But, there was little profit from waiting: this morning Montana and Virginia were still undecided. Down to two states, and Democrats needed both. And I still had to go to school. But - good news! Montana elected the Democratic candidate by noon, and then it was just Virginia. I couldn't help thinking, much though I wanted Allen to SUFFER DEFEAT, that this isn't a democratic system - if the Senate represents the entire country, and that voice is exactly split, then a majority by one still isn't a majority: they have no right to call it that, or to vote on things fundamental to the American people. But at the same time, the American people seem to be pretty distracted by relatively unimportant things, so maybe it is up to the Senate, no matter how closely divided, to be our guide. And since it's a Democratic senate, I'm certainly not unhappy. It may not be much of a majority at all, and from an objective POV it may be a pretty unbalanced system, but it's my majority! And I hope, hope, hope that they will concentrate on fundamental things: fundamental being the WAR IN IRAQ, and finding Alternative Energy so that we won't crash when we run out of oil in 2030. Gay marriage and abortion are fundamental, too, but people are making far too big a deal over both, which distracts from the real picture: don't get me wrong, I think those are important issues, and I think that they should be legal - I just think it's ridiculous that as a country, people would elect their leaders on only those issues.

But what I sat down to write was this: WE HAVE CONTROL OF THE SENATE!!! Webb in Virginia won, and defeated Allen, the slimy horrible toad-candidate, and the Democrats have the Senate, we have a voice again, we can finally have a say in rejecting and modifying the plans of the Grand Old Party. Not to mention, writing our own laws.

I definitely started crying when the news came on. Honestly, it seems too good to be true. I'm so proud of America!

Labels: california, politics

posted by Holly @ 6:57 PM