High Ground in a Political Tsunami

The midterm congressional elections are tomorrow, 2 November 2010, and the world is watching. What do 'We the People' think about the state of our nation? What do we think about President Obama? Do we really like Republicans, Sarah Palin, or Christine O'Donnell? Did the economic stimuli help or hurt the economy? Is the Tea Party just another political fad (see: Ross Perot)? How do we make sense of the results?

I can't tell you all the answers but as an avid watcher of all-things-political, I can tell you what you should expect to see in the headlines of Wednesday morning. And just for fun, I'll tell you what I think it all means.

Predictions:
1) Republicans retake the U.S. House of Representatives by netting 65+ seats.
2) Republicans take control of 33-34 Governorships.
3) Republicans net 9 Senate seats, the U.S. Senate is deadlocked at 50-50.
4) In California, Proposition 19, Carly Forina (after recount), and Meg Whitman all lose.

What would this all mean? Ultimately, I believe that Nancy Pelosi, much of the Democratic House leadership, and 4-5 members of Obama's team leave their respective posts (mostly to "retire") between now and January. Republicans will reelect the same party leadership. This election should be seen as a dual referendum on both Presidents Bush and Obama and as such, a popular movement toward austere and frugal government. People are uncomfortable with the size of government and deficit spending. Most voters probably trace responsibility for these economic times to poor legislation and mediocre executive leadership over the past decade or two. The majority of people like President Obama and they want him to succeed, but they are getting this feeling that he is more interested in self-achievement then he is in popular leadership. The majority doesn't like Republicans, the Tea Party, Democrats, or any other political movement.

I think the mood of voters is this: They just want it all to go away so that they can live in the sunny nostalgia of yesteryear (whether that be the golden age of Clinton, Reagan, or the world your carefree childhood). None of those 'worlds' ever really existed but it is true that the problems we're facing now seem to be unfixable. As a nation, we've faced greater challenges and none of them had quick fixes. The Cold War took decades to defuse. The Depression cost our families years of blood, sweat, and tears. The sin of slavery was not removed by a simple proclamation. The struggle for independence was not won by the resolve of the minutemen. Please just remember that your vote tomorrow can not save the world, you must look to another Savior.