I Walk The Line

OK, so I got my initial reaction rant out of the way. Going back and reading it I'm actually surprised at how measured it is. Especially when you consider the false hopes created by the tightness of some of the races expected to cascade into Obamaland by 8pm.

I've had my good nights rest. I've had time to collect my thoughts. I haven't watched more than 2 or 3 minutes of coverage today in total as I'm just not interested in more than the final EV tally.

The silver lining is the re-election of KY Senator Mitch McConnell who will be the only real leader of the loyal opposition. Depending on how the MN Senate seat recount goes it should be fairly easy to varying degrees to strategically use the filibuster and avoid being run roughshod over for the next two years.

Now some perspective.

The Obama/Pelosi/Reid troika definitely have major agenda items that they'll want to get to. But they'll have to pick their battles. Even Dems in Congress have to be careful what they sign on for because anything that flops will come back to haunt them. By and large, these men and women are politicians first. And protecting their all-important hides is their overriding priority. But they need some bones to throw. So they'll get to work right away, before Obama is even sworn in.

Here's a fellow MuNuvian (or is it MeeNeevian now?) who makes a good point:

"Idealists often stub their toes on the wayward rocks of reality, and fall on their faces. And the world doesn't respond to benign behavior benignly.

But there's another reason why: Obama has been hiding his light under a basket. A lot of people bought a pig in a poke today, and now they're going to find out what they bought. Obama isn't what most of them think he is. The intoxication of the cult will wear off, leaving a monumental hangover...

...And it ain't possible for the Democrats to deliver what's been promised. Gonna be a hell of a lot of disillusioned lefties out there. A lot of people who felt they were deceived. A lot of people who will eventually realize that the Obama campaign was something of a cult.

Disillusionment will turn to a feeling of betrayal. And that will, in turn, convert to anger.

In the mean time, Obama and Congressional Democrats will do things that cause harm, but very little of it will be irreversible.

I would have enjoyed watching lefty heads explode if McCain had won. But we're going to see lefty heads exploding anyway; it's just going to take longer."

As for myself, after a brief bout with Obama Derangement Syndrome as the results came in, I decided I couldn't do it. Sure, I'll photoshop stupid pictures, criticize our new president with vigor and joy, and work to ensure that conservatives are a thorn in his side, but like I said last night, I won't hate him for a simple reason.

I love this country too much to do to President-Elect Obama what the left did to President Bush, John McCain and Sarah Palin. We're better than that.

Demonization is not essential to opposition. I plan to spend the next four years like I spent the last four - being a husband, dad and extremely reluctant taxpayer. I'm going to disagree with the president a lot, but I don't see that as a license to hate. I've spent far too much time criticizing the left to become like them.

Okay - I'm not suggesting we reach across the aisle and embrace bipartisanship, or roll over for The One and give him what he wants. No way. I'm simply saying that in our zeal to defeat him and his policies, we shouldn't go overboard and turn into the shrill hatemongers we have spent the last eight years despising.

That's eight years of hate. Eight years of their sad lives that they're never going to get back. And they invested everything - and I mean everything - in the hope of The One to deliver them to the promised land. Right now they think they're stepping of the boat onto the golden shores with rainbows all around and a unicorn in every garage (sorry Robbo).

As I said in the last post, the bloom will certainly come off the rose. After the honeymoon, how long will it be before the Kos-sacks end up feeling dissed over some trivial matter? How long before they don't feel they're being sufficiently consulted? Despite their best efforts, they can't stop being who they really are. In the aftermath of the 2006 Congressional elections, I recall one Lefty loon (it may well have been Kos, but I think it was someone at MorOn.org) who said of the Democrat party "we bought it, we own it. it's ours."

And while the Democrats still coveted the White House and needed those foot soldiers, the DNC didn't argue with them. I don't think it will be long before the MoveOn crowd comes to realize that rather than owning it they were merely renting it.

And I'm certainly not going to pull that childish "He's not my President" crap, which is the political equivalent of stamping your feet and holding your breath. Of course he'll be my President. What an absurdity to state otherwise. Though that didn't stop so many of the Lefties for the last eight years.

So back to the post title. Going forward I will certainly be there to highlight where the new President goes wrong. But not in anticipation that it damages the country, but rather in hopes that those unbelievable expectations come crashing to Earth. And that those on the Left who invested so much of themselves building up those expectations come crashing down with them.

There's a fine line between being a cheerful conscientious critic and an angry bitter opponent. I will have to pay careful attention as I walk that line. And so will the rest of you.

Don't become what you hate. Believe it or not it'll make them crazier.

Congratulations President-Elect Obama. And good luck. You're going to need it.