Job half done

The U.S. Midterm elections saw a series of Republican victories at Senate, House, Governor, and State Legislature levels. It will make a substantial difference in a number of ways (eg. GOP controlled House will pass a whole new brand of spending bills, Republicans redrawing Congressional District boundaries at State level to their advantage, Senate having solid fillibuster-proof 47 GOP seats), but while it's a big step it's only the first step.

If they stay on message and keep it simple, and if the contest for their Presidential nomination honors Ronald Reagan's 11th Commandment (Thou Shalt not speak ill of a fellow Republican) more than might be expected in what will surely be a vigorous and competitive contest, Republicans can take control of the Senate in 2012 (23 Democrat seats up) and make Barack Obama a one term President. The latter possibility is fraught with obstacles, and the chances of the most likely candidate to defeat the President being the actual choice is far from certain (these elections showed that Tea Party associated candidates were judged like all other candidates and some were stronger than others). But only with a Republican President and Congress after 2012 can the legislation of 2009-10 be repealed and new and better laws be passed and signed.

Most importantly there must be no triumphalism - which is not yet justified, if it ever is! - and not a moment spent in navel gazing or clashes of egos. The next two years up to and including election day 2012 are amongst the most important in America's history. The nation requires and deserves the best the GOP has to offer. If they continue to listion to the People and act accordingly - with fortitude but humility - it will culminate in a glorious day in November 2012 and in the years thereafter.

But there's a looooong way to go.