THANK GOD THE CAMPAIGN IS OVER

I do not know about you, but I for one am truly happy that the presidential campaign is over. Personally, I am sick and tired of the politicians telling me that they are fighting for me. It is time for them to stop fighting and get to work for me and on behalf of every citizen, whether blue/red or left/right. The problems facing our great nation are so significant that “fighting” is detrimental, and an honest, objective bi-partisan working effort is now essential.

Although I felt Obama would win, the outcome of the presidential election was not as I had hoped. However, it is time for all of us to band together behind our president elect. May God give him the strength, and good reason to serve all the people with objectively. It is also time for us to look upon our new president not as a black man, but as our democratically elected leader. Historians will someday dissect this election, and if ACORN possibly impacted the results. Our national and worldwide problems are of such a serious nature that we must work together, move forward, and seek solutions promptly.

Yes, today I consumed a healthy serving of humble pie, and it did not taste very good. Your Commander will continue to cast a weary eye toward all of our politicians, because the track record requires constant vigilance.

While I call for a by-partisan effort with President-Elect Obama, I caution you… there are some dangerous issues on our immediate horizon. Already, House Speaker Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Majority Leader Reid (D-NV) are threatening revenge and using their majority positions with prompt liberal legislation. I suggest they be very careful, because excessive action could cause a substantial backlash from the electorate. Yes, Obama won. But, there are over 55 million citizens who voted for McCain, and to ignore them or grind them into submission would he a huge political error.

All is not bleak, because the Democrats did not achieve the goal of a filibuster- proof majority of 60 seats in the Senate. It is beneficial that the Senate still maintain a vocal opposition that permits the checks and balances to exist in the legislative process.

Beware of the claims of Sen. Charles Schumer D-NY for the need to re-establish the Fairness Doctrine (presenting issues with equal time for opposing views). Schumer and others have the goal of silencing conservative and middle of the road talk radio formats. But they should ask themselves why liberal Radio Air America fail and go bankrupt? An essay or two will be posted about this issue in coming weeks.

Hopefully, our new president will move with caution in removing our troops from Iraq. While I have changed my original position on this War, it would be extremely dangerous to withdraw too quickly. While it is time for the Iraqi government to begin to cover much of the expense involved in saving their very existence, we must not be put into a position of having to return should the situation turn ugly once our troops leave. We have won the War, and it is time for our forces to start coming home, but more importantly it is time for Iraq to stand up to their responsibilities. It is my experience that individuals and countries that rely on welfare tend to do little to get off the dole rolls without a firm nudge.

Attention must promptly focus on solving our economic shortcomings. Your Commander is vehemently opposed to income re-distribution. The American people understand need and are renowned world-wide for their charitable generosity. I refuse to be accused of being selfish, and will fight to my last dying breath to support an honest days work for a fair days pay. If the European style welfare state is established, it will destroy the American Dream quickly.

I do not know about you, but I turned the television off at 11PM (EST) last night just as the presidential results were being called. I could no longer comprehend the confusing, quickly switching graphic presentations of all the networks and cable stations. Graphics ruled over content, and the screens switched so quickly that my feeble old mind could not keep up with all of them trying to out-graphic one another. The growth of the internet’s influence has the network and cable operators trying to save their business model, and they are currently in a death spiral.

Onward. Let us give this new guy a chance. America will welcome CHANGE, but only just so much, so I caution Obama and his advisors. If he fails to deliver his pledge to CHANGE the country for the good, we will have a chance to vote his party out of office beginning with the Congressional elections in just two years, or make him a one-term President in four quickly passing years.

COMMANDER GRANGER