Spring Break
We've already got the change
Issue date: 11/6/08 Section: Editorial/Opinion
11/6/08 - Whether you were in the Obama or McCain camp, as of Tuesday night, the country has made it known that there needs to be a change, not only in America's future, but in its politics as well.
It was just four years ago when U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) said America cannot continue with a "red state, blue state philosophy." While this might have been the most historical presidential race of the century, each of the candidates' policies were more similar to each others' than in elections past. It seemed, at least for a bit, that the two major parties had begun to bridge some of their differences, with the exception of some core ideals.
But even though the country and its politicians seem to have taken this large step forward, Obama still received an overwhelming majority of the electoral vote.
Naturally, classrooms were buzzing with election news yesterday, and many McCain supporters were still contemplating where he went astray.
Many said Obama supporters were too focused on change and race. Many moderate republicans claimed McCain was just no match against the right wing, changing his "maverick" ways to appease his party, which includes naming Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin a runningmate.
Palin seemed to change the course of the election for many republicans, who like some democrats, said they were looking for a change from President George Bush's administration.
Suddenly, it was back to old party politics.
But perhaps a bigger concern was the election of a democratic Congress to follow a democratic president. Without that republican voice somewhere, many are questioning how successful the country's checks and balances system can really be.
Had the maverick and the change man gone head-to-head without "playing the political game," who knows what might've happened.
Obama, however, firmly believes America would have made the same choice either way.
"The record's clear," he said Tuesday night. "John McCain has voted with George Bush 90 percent of the time. Senator McCain likes to talk about judgment, but really, what does it say about your judgment when you think George Bush has been right more than 90 percent of the time? I don't know about you, but I am not ready to take a 10 percent chance on change."
But no matter your political affiliation, it's hard not to agree that this election changed something about the way America votes. There were more ears tuned into this election than ever before - and let's hope it stays that way.
It was just four years ago when U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) said America cannot continue with a "red state, blue state philosophy." While this might have been the most historical presidential race of the century, each of the candidates' policies were more similar to each others' than in elections past. It seemed, at least for a bit, that the two major parties had begun to bridge some of their differences, with the exception of some core ideals.
But even though the country and its politicians seem to have taken this large step forward, Obama still received an overwhelming majority of the electoral vote.
Naturally, classrooms were buzzing with election news yesterday, and many McCain supporters were still contemplating where he went astray.
Many said Obama supporters were too focused on change and race. Many moderate republicans claimed McCain was just no match against the right wing, changing his "maverick" ways to appease his party, which includes naming Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin a runningmate.
Palin seemed to change the course of the election for many republicans, who like some democrats, said they were looking for a change from President George Bush's administration.
Suddenly, it was back to old party politics.
But perhaps a bigger concern was the election of a democratic Congress to follow a democratic president. Without that republican voice somewhere, many are questioning how successful the country's checks and balances system can really be.
Had the maverick and the change man gone head-to-head without "playing the political game," who knows what might've happened.
Obama, however, firmly believes America would have made the same choice either way.
"The record's clear," he said Tuesday night. "John McCain has voted with George Bush 90 percent of the time. Senator McCain likes to talk about judgment, but really, what does it say about your judgment when you think George Bush has been right more than 90 percent of the time? I don't know about you, but I am not ready to take a 10 percent chance on change."
But no matter your political affiliation, it's hard not to agree that this election changed something about the way America votes. There were more ears tuned into this election than ever before - and let's hope it stays that way.
