why am i yelling?

So Republicans got control of the House? It’s really not the end of the world. This country has thrived during periods of time when different parties controlled the House/Senate and Executive branch. What _is_ of concern is the fact that insane uber-libertarian/social conservatives like Rand Paul won a senate seat. Thankfully, I can still have faith in this country after seeing the grossly unqualified Tea Party-er Christine O’Donnell lose to Chris Coons in Delaware. It was a little disconcerting reading Meghan McCain predict O’Donnell winning over Coons in a predominantly blue state. I enjoy reading her column in the Daily Beast, but today’s was a little too “by the books” when it comes to conservative rhetoric.

This country is having a knee jerk reaction to the last two years of a Democratic President, House and Senate. A lot of it probably has to do with the fact that the stimulus package was enacted prior to the health care overhaul. This ended up allowing Republicans to claim that the Democrats did nothing to create new jobs and improve the economy. Of course, whenever someone brings up the fact that the stimulus package was passed - the go-to response by opponents of it is that it hasn’t worked. Our country just experienced its deepest decline in economic welfare in its history - it’s going to take a bit more than 1.5 years to resuscitate it. Regardless of that argument, knee-jerkers (what I’m calling the folks who suddenly decided our country was headed in a horrible direction) will look at the health care legislation and consider it a giant waste of money and/or violation of constitutional rights. They’ll also mistakenly associate the TARP bail out with the Obama administration (even though it was passed at the end of 2008 - prior to him taking office).

Frankly, I think the fact that Democrats maintained control of the Senate after two years of the highest unemployment/foreclosure rates _and_ the passage incredibly socially progressive legislation is a sheer miracle. What’s the worst that could happen? It’s not like they (the conservatives) can repeal the health care bill (although they might be able to repeal parts of it). Just the simple fact that it got passed put it on the radar of the population and made money hungry insurance companies realize their policies will come under scrutiny.

Like I said - it’s not the end of the world. The uneducated bigots that have come to the forefront of the Tea Party movement scare the crap out of me (the rational members that preach fiscal conservatism don’t, of course), but I don’t feel like they’re going to get too far (considering their own party is skeptical of their qualifications). Plus, with the Republicans in control of the House - it will be far harder to play the blame game come 2012.