March 3, 2011 - 4:34pm
Blogging Blue: Democrats and sports clichés
BY WILL BUTLER
Unless you have been living under a rock, you know that the Democrats got whopped on Election Day, losing their majority in the U.S. House and narrowly keeping their power in the Senate. Republicans are declaring that America has spoken. Some say that voters decided to put a check on Obama’s “runaway liberal agenda” and his “European socialism.”
So with this Republican rhetoric being thrown about, Democrats are left wondering: Where does the party go from here? While losing the midterms so disastrously is a devastating pill to swallow, the truth is that, despite the numerical results, Democrats are the actual winners.
There is a cliché saying in sports that pain is brief, but glory is forever. In political terms this translates to legislative majorities are temporary, but legislative achievements endure. Democrats were certainly beat in a tidal wave reminiscent and even larger than 1994, but lets not forget the historic legislation passed by this Democratic-controlled Congress. Legislation such as health care reform, the economic stimulus, financial regulation, and college loan reform — all of these landmark achievements are here to stay. While American voter is fickle and elections will always be a swinging pendulum of power, these reforms won't be undone.
So to all those Democrats lamenting and brooding, pick your heads up and stop feeling sorry for yourselves. Let’s stop acting as if this Congress and this president have disappointed us. The past few years have been a slew of progressive legislation and an advancement of progressive causes. For now, lets remember the historic things we did as a party.
Then, we have to get back to work. Certainly the next two years with a Republican-controlled House won't be easy, but it doesn't mean the end to the Democratic Party. So while these midterm elections didn't play out in our favor, lets start thinking about the long haul — this Congress and president’s historical legacy. To go back to the sports cliché, lets stop thinking our brief pain and begin thinking about our enduring glory.
