Some issues are big and scary and complicated (like war and our financial system), and I can understand how I'm not really in a position to specify expectations for how the government will address them.

However, some other issues are so straightforward (even if they aren't 'big') that I can confidently say that if the new Democratic government does not address these issues, then they will be guilty of negligent government.

I'm sure that many issues fall into this category, but here's are two issues that I expect the new government to take care of in fairly short order:

Some brief reflections after yesterday's elections, structured as rights/responsibilities for both parties, which I obviously do not mean in any legal sense but use in a political context.

You did well. Use your power wisely. You have it all.

Edit by stinerman:

The Republicans may have dodged a bullet in the Senate races.  Coleman looks like he's going to be in a recount situation with Franken in MN.  Smith is up in OR, and even Ted Stevens might end up winning in AK.

Ok guys. It's not too early or too late so lets all go on record. Actually you can revise your prediction in this same thread later on, up until the night before the election. Let's do it!

Feel free to include anything you want like the popular vote percentages, electoral votes, state surprises, senate and house results, etc.

Promoted by Brendan. Whatever side you're on, voting is just one small part of enacting the policies you'd like to see. Obama's campaign has inspired millions to become involved; they will have to keep working after the election to turn hopes into reality. 

That's where Black characters are brought in to serve as noble, wise, many times suffering, "guides" to specifically help the main White character understand or transcend some deep metaphysical concept, trauma or life challenge. Counter Racism

As we get closer to the historic election of Barack Obama as the first black President of the United States I can’t help but be concerned about a phenomenon that I sense is gripping the nation in general and many blacks in particular. This phenomenon made famous by various Hollywood films such as Bagger Vance, The Green Mile, and many others throughout the years creates a mystical black character who is able to transcend the realities of life and help a white character overcome some challenge or trauma. Looking at our current national situation I don’t think Hollywood could have scripted this any better. If there was ever a time for a “magic Negro” now would definitely be the time.

In a letter to a local paper, the Mansfield News Journal, Bud Chamberlain opines on why if one "really wants a good President" one should vote for McCain.

In his monument of ignorance and xenophobia, Mr. Chamerlain feels that "Obama has agenda to rule the world [with his Arab friends]."

"Sen. Obama, this is truly a good day for America. Too often the achievements of our opponents go unnoticed," McCain says to the camera. "So I wanted to stop and say, congratulations. How perfect that your nomination would come on this historic day. Tomorrow, we'll be back at it. But tonight senator, job well done."

That was McCain's classy congratulation to Obama for accepting the Democratic nomination for President on the anniversary of MLK's "I have a dream" speech. This historic event certainly demonstrated just how far America has come towards realizing King's dream. However, we don't yet live in a race-blind society.

Political campaigns are run with the goal of winning an election. As such, they need to fully understand how voters make decisions, and in what ways voters are persuadable. Some campaigns will avoid "dirty politics" -- tactics that would be effective but which it is felt cross an ethical line. Some won't. You as an informed citizen ought to understand how the issue of race can be exploited by campaigns, and then you can decide for yourself whether a particular campaign is playing to racial sentiments.

"The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried. - GK Chesterton

Every time I've heard the Obama campaign say both proudly and defensively that their "average contribution is under $100" I've strongly suspected that it is a misleading use of the "average" statistic, knowing that the lion's share of contributions could be in amounts of $25 and $50, and yet most of the total dollars could be coming from contributions of thousands of dollars each, perhaps most of which are the maximum individual contribution of $2300 for the general election ($4600 per couple), in addition to whatever they gave during the primaries, subject (I

Joe,

Hope you caught, or read, Powell's thoughtful explanation of why he is voting for Obama.   He achieved what I sometimes try to do, which is deciding on my decision on issues without having to either publicly or, more important, internally simplify the question into good and evil, right or wrong, black or white.

And I'm actually quite happy about it. What is this new GOP? It is the GOP centered around an oft-repeated idea (at this blog and elsewhere) of National Greatness Conservatism.

Why am I happy about it? Well, because I believe this is the real GOP and always has been all along during my lifetime of 35 years and well before. It is the heart and soul of the party...and while it gave an appearance of being otherwise (libertarian, for example) from time to time, it was simply a marketing ploy to put a different spin...however incoherent...on the true driver of party ID.

As the gap continues to widen between Obama and McCain, cable news blabbermouths have started tweaking the electoral maps to make the battlegrounds look more competitive than they really are in order to keep the horse race going.  What should be more relevant, however, is how the Senate races correlate with the presidential numbers.

Democrats currently hold 50 seats + Lieberman in the Senate (I'm counting Bernie Sanders as a Dem because he's a better Dem than many nominal Dems).

Lois Coar, the mother of two grown children, supported Mitt Romney this year and is undecided for November. She cannot see voting for Obama -- "not because he's black, but I just can't put it in words." She likes McCain as a person, but "I can't understand why he keeps talking about this Ayers guy" -- William Ayers, the 1960s radical who became an occasional colleague and supporter of Obama in Chicago. "He should be focusing on the economy and real terrorists; that's what people worry about," she said.

OagXyW Really enjoyed this post. Fantastic.

With the Presidential Campaign down to its last few weeks, what can John McCain (the guy I’m voting for) do to turn it around? At the time of the bank bailout debate before congress, McCain suspended his campaign (?) and then said he would put off the first debate wirth Obama. He then showed up at the debate anyway. Who is he to threaten not go to the debate after criticizing Obama for ducking debates.? So, IMO, dumb move.

gWEw3F I loved your article post.Really thank you! Keep writing.

Some suggested questions for the townhall forum:

1. For Obama: How does your healthcare plan handle the free rider problem? What specific modernization/efficiency improvements do you see saving costs?
2. For McCain: How do you square your claimed support for alternative energy with your consistent failure to vote to fund it?
3. For Obama: What steps will your administration take to minimize foreclosures? Do you think GSEs like Fannie/Freddie are a mistake?
4. For McCain: Do you still support (partial) privatization of social security, and if so what safeguards would you put in place to limit potential losses?
5. For both: do you agree Americans are ill-served by the negative campaigning taking place? What specific steps will you take to limit it going forward?
Edit: liveblog can be reviewed below the fold, thanks to everyone who participated for a fun debate watch. Factcheck here

Take a look at this diary from Redstate.

Today is the first day of his polling track that includes all polling after the VP debate. 70 million people watched that debate, and the results are that Obama's lead increased to 8 points? How does that make any sense in a sane universe? Giving the MSM spin, at best it can be called "Biden held his own", which should have resulted in the tracking poll holding steady.

jovoVw Say, you got a nice article.Much thanks again. Really Great.