Yes I was of the opinion that Weiner resign and am glad he did the right thing. No the results of this election don't change my mind.
The election in this district bodes total disaster for the Democratic Party in 2012. I think the Republicans in the House will totally block President Obama's job plan or just pass those parts they support. This Special Election completely emboldens them and will cause a lot of Democratic Congress people to rethink their positions. The Republican Debates leave no doubt as to what would happen if they win control in 2012 and right now I think that's where it's headed. A lot of middleclass people and their children will pay the price if this happens. Congressman Hinchey may not run again up here in the NY 22 Congressional District and if he doesn't I don't see a good outcome. Even if Hinchey runs and wins he may not finish out his term.
One of the things we can all do is speak to everyone who is in our daily lives about political issues from now until the election. If we are afraid or refuse to do this then we can't blame politicians for being just the same. Politics is not something to be hidden under the rug because we might lose friends. I love the free and open exchange of ideas especially with people that don't agree with me. It's the only real way to change things and is the American Way. All Politics is Local so the saying goes and it's up to each of us to do our part. When Governor Perry said that the stimulus created zero jobs it was an absolutely false statement. It's important to know the facts at the dinner table because that is local politics. I've not run into a teabagger yet who is afraid to express their political opinions openly to everyone they meet but I know several liberals who keep quiet when they should be speaking. In this election season being quiet leads to defeat so don't be afraid to confront anyone with the facts.
America is depending on us to keep Pell Grants available to millions of students across this nation so they can attend college, to keep Medicare for those elderly who need decent healthcare, to keep the EPA so that our air, water and food are kept to high standards, to keep FEMA so that those who lose everything in a natural disaster have the help they need, to keep the National Weather Service so that people can get out of harms way in severe weather, to keep Social Security for the millions that will need it in their later years, to keep the Department of Education because education is the future of a nation. All these programs and agencies were created for a reason because the private sector could not now or ever provide these services. Case in point Medicare created because the private insurance industry wouldn't insure elderly people except at prohibitive cost and would drop individuals as they reached a certain age.
I always think of that sign in front of the Supreme Court that says "The Price of Liberty is Eternal Vigilance".
