Columns

Election post mortem 1

LEN TRIA, Uncommon Sense
Published: November 14, 2012

It is really a treat and an educational experience to listen to the talking heads on the tube as they dissect and examine the results from the election.

The emphasis, of course, is on the losing side and what they did wrong. Wrong candidate, wrong message, wrong stance on social issues, wrong and wrong ad nausea.

This always happens after a defeat in politics when the hind sight political consultants and political commentators flock to the airwaves to give their vaunted opinion. Go back to the shellacking Goldwater took and conservatism was defined and nurtured by William F. Buckley, Jr and Brett Bozell Sr. and grew into a powerful political force.

The Democrats have had their share of trouncing as evidenced by the election of Ronald Reagan to two terms as president. Michael Dukakis in his historic loss to Bush 41 was said to be the demise if the Democrat Party.

Then along comes Bill Clinton and the fortunes of politics change again. Now we have the loss of Mitt Romney to Barak Obama plus the loss of Senate seats that should have been easy pick-ups for the Republicans Once again the post mortem operatives have determined what was done wrong and how it is crippling for the opposition.

There is no doubt there were some serious miscalculations made by the Republican strategists. For one thing they failed to accurately project the Democratic turnout and that was fatal. Then there are the demographic realities that concern the minority voters, (blacks, Hispanics and women).

There must be a reassessment of how the conservative message is portrayed to these voters. There should be a reevaluation of some social stands as it is clear that they are losers when it comes to elections. The party should abandon its no tax increase on millionaires and tax everyone earning over one million dollars at 90 percent.

Then, of course, the party must choose better candidates who know when to keep their mouths shut when it comes to plain stupidity, as Todd Aiken (R-Mo.) and Richard Murdock(R-Ind.), the two senate candidates who are a prime examples of self destruction that need not have happened.

Apparently the economy was not the most important issue to many of the electorate and the results are proof positive. We have become balkanized and the Republicans had better figure out a way to unite people behind principles of sound economic policy and limited government.

The American people have been sold a bill of bogus ideas, in my view, that are unsustainable and will lead this nation to financial ruin. Some final thought about the candidate Mitt Romney who I believe is perhaps one of the most forthright and moral individuals to have run for president. His background of caring and compassion including his integrity and honesty were not the things that defeated him.

Lying, distortion, pandering and in general the vilest campaign run to date are the reason America lost the chance for leadership with character. Time will tell if this administration is worthy of the trust that so many placed in their care to lead this nation. I hope so!