The Blame Game

Republicans are loudly declaring that the Obama victory was not a "landslide" or even a mandate. Obama won the electoral vote by 364 to 162, and this constitutes a landslide victory. So get over it and get behind our new president who faces the deepest hole ever dug for our country and our democracy.
Except for a great love for this country, frankly, I don't know why anybody wanted this job with all the crises taking place!
Personal e-mails I have received due to the tag line at the end of my column call me a socialist, communist and much worse. Since the McCain campaign staff continued to declare that they would win the election with the votes of the "less educated" segment of our citizens, this comes as no surprise. Wonder why anyone would relish being included in a group referred to as "less educated?" It all indicates a division in this country which has taken place under the eight-year regime of George W. Bush/Dick Cheney. A divide and conquer philosophy of lies and name-calling that has become ineffective and should continue to decline as things improve under an Obama administration. His administration will begin to right so many of the wrongs committed in the name of the United States: Illegal wars based on lies, economic destruction of the middle class, suspension of habeas corpus, abandonment of true scientific research and environmental protections and the sanction of torture. It is no wonder the entire world seems to be rejoicing at the election of Barack Obama.
A further surprise came this weekend as I read in the local papers that Hernando County Democratic Club President Steve Zeledon is putting the blame for the lack of the party's success in our county on the shoulders of the Obama staff organizers who worked so hard to win this election for fellow Democrats. One of these organizers, Daniel Ellis, was a guest in our home from September until last Friday. He would leave our home at 9 a.m. each and every day, including weekends, and not return until the early morning hours. On the last Sunday before this historic election, he and his volunteers canvassed 1,000 homes. I have never seen such hard work and dedication. It is, and was, the responsibility of the local HCDEC to work with them and to work for the election to all other offices being targeted by Democrats belongs to the HCDEC.
Who is Zeledon blaming for our losses in 2004 and 2006?
As my tag line tells you, I was, at one time, vice chairwoman of the HCDEC and its ineffectiveness in supporting and electing candidates was my reason for resigning my office. Nothing has changed and joining Republicans in the "blame game" is beneath contempt. It seemed to me that many efforts by the Obama staff were pretty much rejected by HCDEC throughout this campaign. These paid staffers were well trained and not here to take orders from the local officials. As vice chairwoman, I remember pointing out, more than once, that seeing ourselves as "important" for our election by ballot would only make sense if we were getting paid!
As usual, in all organizations based on volunteerism, there were those who do all the real work and those who, perhaps, were so intent on buying new programs and gadgets that they did not use funds to help candidates win election. This includes our state party (FDP) and its consistent failure to help fund candidates. In my opinion, new leadership is of paramount importance. But then, that is only my opinion and who, after all, am I?
For those who say that Obama is "not my president," when you guys get your tax cut, will you refuse it and pay the full amount instead? When the IRS finds the overpayment and sends you a check, will you tear it up? I think not! You will enjoy the benefit you receive that will help your family to survive this economic hole. Maybe you will begin to understand that you have been ripped off for more than eight years and applauded those committing this assault, re-electing them so they can do it to you again. At that point in time, you will actually be following the premise that taking care of yourself first is vital, one of the tenets of the Republican doctrine.
I recommend new leadership at all levels of the Democratic Party in Florida which has produced a state government that cuts services to the middle class, cuts money for education (lottery money for education?), invested pension funds in companies such as Lehmann Brothers, a firm already in trouble when this investment was made.
A government for privatization, transferring authority to profit-making companies, putting state employees out of work.
State employees do not get a raise if the workload increases but just get told to "git er done!"