Don't Go to the Dark Side

Excuse the allusion to Star Wars - but if you are like me, you are feeling disappointed, probably a little bit bitter, and maybe even angry.

Remember the lessons of the last four years, we saw the following:

* Bush Derangement Syndrome made many otherwise intelligent and worthwhile people, somewhat crazy sounding.
* Assassination fantasies from those on the left.
* Illegitimate filibustering of the well qualified judicial nominees.
* Playing politics with national security issues.
* Posting maps of the "red" states and saying "get the f out of our country".
* Etc.
* Etc.

None of these things contribute to the functioning of the political or civil society. For those of us who disagree ideologically with Obama and the leaders of the House and Senate - we must still fight for policies we know to be correct and fight against those we know to be bad. However we should fight these battles with integrity and in an honest, legitimate, and decent manner. Don't become what you have probably detested over the last 8 years.

And for Obama - good luck to you and may God bless you. I hope the recent reach to the right in your campaign rhetoric is how you govern. We all have a large stake in your success and you will soon be the commander in chief of the US armed forces, which are still engaged in two major conflicts - may you be an honorable one. It will be nice not to have to defend George Bush anymore, if things hold out, he'll have gotten us from 9/11/2001 through almost two terms without a major attack, and whatever his failings otherwise - and I see many - that may be enough. It will be nice if Obama can get us through the next four with that kind of success.

I'd like to dedicate this post to Dean Barnett whose wisdom and wit, both in his blogging and in his emails was a great companion of the successes in 2004 (Red Sox and otherwise) and a great comfort to the dismal showing of 2006. I do wish I could read his analysis and commentary tomorrow morning, and I believe he was an early predictor of Obama's rise to power. RIP Dean, you are missed.