Known-Knowns and Known-Unknowns
This is a day worth remembering. The Democrats won the majority seats in both the House and the Senate in this year’s midterm elections. I am absolutely thrilled and encouraged. Too many offensive bills have been passed; too many arrogant policies were implemented in the past six years. Yet I, and people like-minded, felt there was absolutely nothing we could do to have our voices heard and to steer our nation away from disasters. Now I know what neo-conservatives must have felt in 2000, 2002, and 2004 – utter elation!
It was interesting that Republican senator Lincoln Chafee in Rhode Island, who is well liked by residents there, lost to his Democrat contender Sheldon Whitehouse. That shows how strongly Rhode Islanders felt about the current administration, and the necessity of check-and-balance. I am glad Maine senator Olympia Snowe retained her seat, ‘cause I liked her when I was living in Maine. That said, I would not cry had she left. The moderates in the Republican Party did not do a good job containing the neo-cons and there is nothing wrong that they get a bad report card.
Donald Rumsfeld resigned today, leaving behind him a legacy of massive-mess-generator in Iraq. He made a brief departing speech at the White House news conference this morning. He lingered on his famous word play of known-unknowns and unknown-unknowns. Unfortunately, to the end of his tenure, he never saw the fourth possibility – unknown-knowns. They entered this Iraqi mess believing we would be treated as liberators and the future would be all rosy. Had they questioned their knowns in the first place, we would not be in such a tight spot right now.
This year’s voting process encourages me. It is worth noting, though, that the voters did not vote for the Democrats. Rather, they used their vote as referendum against Bush. It’s a gift handed to the Democrats and their reputation, and their position in 2008, hinges on them getting some concrete agenda out in the next two years. Implementation seems a repeated problem for the Democrats in the past. I hope they do not waste this precious opportunity just opened to them.
Looking ahead, I believe a moderate Republican who does not shy away from accepting responsibility for the current mess and a Democrat who has a clear agenda on how to pull us out of the mess will do well in 2008. In any case, let’s celebrate today.
It was interesting that Republican senator Lincoln Chafee in Rhode Island, who is well liked by residents there, lost to his Democrat contender Sheldon Whitehouse. That shows how strongly Rhode Islanders felt about the current administration, and the necessity of check-and-balance. I am glad Maine senator Olympia Snowe retained her seat, ‘cause I liked her when I was living in Maine. That said, I would not cry had she left. The moderates in the Republican Party did not do a good job containing the neo-cons and there is nothing wrong that they get a bad report card.
Donald Rumsfeld resigned today, leaving behind him a legacy of massive-mess-generator in Iraq. He made a brief departing speech at the White House news conference this morning. He lingered on his famous word play of known-unknowns and unknown-unknowns. Unfortunately, to the end of his tenure, he never saw the fourth possibility – unknown-knowns. They entered this Iraqi mess believing we would be treated as liberators and the future would be all rosy. Had they questioned their knowns in the first place, we would not be in such a tight spot right now.
This year’s voting process encourages me. It is worth noting, though, that the voters did not vote for the Democrats. Rather, they used their vote as referendum against Bush. It’s a gift handed to the Democrats and their reputation, and their position in 2008, hinges on them getting some concrete agenda out in the next two years. Implementation seems a repeated problem for the Democrats in the past. I hope they do not waste this precious opportunity just opened to them.
Looking ahead, I believe a moderate Republican who does not shy away from accepting responsibility for the current mess and a Democrat who has a clear agenda on how to pull us out of the mess will do well in 2008. In any case, let’s celebrate today.
posted by Kishuki | 9:48 PM
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