No bones about it, I am disappointed in todays election results, even maybe a little surprised. I'm surprised certain candidates were not able to hang on, but then its their own fault, from failing in Washington on several pieces of key legislative agenda and failing on the campaign trail.

I refuse to buy the media's interpretation that the elections were a referendum on Iraq. For one, the Democrats' base is so divided up among different constituencies (social security seniors, organized lazy labor, welfare dependents) that it doesn't seem likely that 52% of Americans with a negative view of Iraq voted because they demand a "new direction" (as an aside, there is only one direction in war, and that is towards victory). More than likely they voted under the perceived threat that somehow George Bush threatened their check or their job.

I am more than a little disturbed by the lack of backbone displayed by more and more Americans. This same lack of backbone is what permits eminent domain abuse to exist today. A strong-willed, industrious and ruggedly independent populace is incompatible with socialism, and the Democrats know this. But the people so loudly protesting the war in Iraq are not the ones who are sacrificing the most - a disproportionate amount of the sacrifice comes from the side of the aisle that supports what we are trying to do around the world. The majority of Iraq war opponents have made no military sacrifice, nor have they been asked to, neither have they been asked to make any economic sacrifices.

Not to be bitter about the situation (for being bitter tends to be a waste of time), we should look at the positives gained for true conservatives. Even John McCain began paying lip service to "conservatism" last night, so evidently, he's getting scared. We've rid ourselves of some truly abhorrent Republicans (Chafee, etc.) and some other questionably conservative Republicans got their come-uppins' (Allen - remember Trent Lott?). We can start with a clean slate and bring in new, true conservatives (and there are a good many in the party and outside the party).