Brief Post-Election Thoughts

So, I know I have been fairly silent over the last two months, but iis the price I pay for working full time and going to law school. However, I would like to share a few post-election thoughts.

First of all, the election went the way I thought it would, though Obama did win a few more states than I originally predicted. What surprised me was how poor Republicans did in the Senate. Despite his troubles, I honestly believed Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) would get the 50.1% he needed to avoid a December run-off. I also thought Gordon Smith (R-OR) would win in Oregon, and I didn't think Norm Coleman (R-MN) would such a difficult time with Al Franken in Minnesota, but I guess that is because I was unable to take Franken seriously.

Despite his recent conviction on seven counts of making false statements, I expected Ted Stevens (R-AK) to keep his seat, just long enough for the Senate Ethics Committee to expel him from office. Three of these races remain undecided, but I am hoping at least one Republicans holds on, so the Democratic majority does not get the 60 votes necessary to block filibusters. With increased majorities, and control of the White House, if the Senate Republicans cannot filibuster, then the Democrats will be in complete, unopposed control.

While I did not vote for President-elect Obama, he won. As such, once he takes his oath of office, he will be my President. I do not take that distinction lightly. While I may not believe he is the best man for the job, he is going to be leading my country, and he has my support. I pray that he does a great job and that he leads our country through the tough times ahead. I plan to follow this up with a few thoughts on the new Congress and what I expect to come out of the new unified government, but with finals just around the corner, I cannot guarantee I will have time.