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Nov 4, 2014       
9:00 AM 
                                 “I’m not looking at the election news, yet.”
                                Commentary by Chip Wright


I had thought that I would wait to write this blog until after the elections. But then decided it was not something which I wanted tempered by that outcome, whatever it may be. All I have heard during this midterm election cycle has been that the Senate is going to go to the Republicans. Granted that is a heart-skip-a-beat statement, and it may drive folks who generally don’t pay much attention to midterm elections to do so. But on the other hand I hear nothing about the millions of US citizens who now have health care available without it being denied due to PEC or “Pre-existing Conditions.” No one is talking about how Wall-street is posting its highest levels ever and that the world markets are responding in kind. That the housing market with the input of sensible lending practices has recovered in many parts of the country and in some areas is even showing higher property values and lower unemployment numbers than in 2007. All of this has happened with a President who has struggled against a Congress that has snubbed him at every turn. A conservative leadership that has publicly acknowledged that their bottom line is “If the President wants it, we don’t.” What is even more disturbing is the number of voices in this camp denying not only the best science of the day but basic common sense. It makes me look at the Islamic state situation we are facing and see all kinds of parallels with our own right wing here in the US and that is worrisome to say the least. 

So here I am a confirmed and proud liberal, way beyond what is now called progressive, sitting here in another round of ‘how in hell is this happening?’ It feels to me eerily like the last two Bush elections. Neither of which can be indisputably show that they were not fraudulently manipulated to assure their outcome; and in fact most the evidence would say they were. But evidence not withstanding does not seem to matter all that much. So it is not surprising we’ll likely see another Bush on the ticket in the not-too-distant future.

I just don’t get it. Look at what conservative folks are always saying they want, strong markets, smaller government, less controls, etc. Wall Street is at record highs regardless, while government has for the most part been neutered by the Republican party’s refusal to operate beyond obstructionism as long as there is a ‘darky’ in the white house. Of course they would never admit to that as their motivation but all one needs to do is look and listen to know it is the ‘Big’ unspoken issue.

I remember thinking when Obama got elected both what a marvelous and far reaching step my nation had made. I was proud and full of hope. And even then I thought he might not make it past the first few months without someone assassinating him. And had that election been in 1968 I’m quite sure that would have very possibly been the outcome. But putting aside the racism that is clearly playing a lead role in the political right and its motivations towards this President, I wonder about the strategy they have used to catch their Republican base and draw them to the poles. How anyone can even want to push back against an ongoing call for shifting our government towards a more enlightened and contemporary expression…towards establishing an important place in a new more tightly packed world population. What is it that makes people want to revert to enabling a reactionary Fascist oligarchy?

I truly hope the clear minded, bright and caring population of this nation who voted this administration in twice, steps up and makes a clear and solid statement about what they want and will support today. That after all the votes are counted we still can see the people through the smoke and not just the corporate feeding frenzy that is poised to happen if Congress goes to the right.