This is one of the headlines I awoke to today. I'd never heard of the curious word shellaking before, but I guessed that it wasn't good. On looking it up, it's a stronger way of describing defeat. With the Republicans conquering the House of Representavies, anjd the Democrats only just holding on to the Senate, President Barak Obama's former popularity bubble has been well and truly burst.
With the Republicans gaining 60 Representive seats, six in the Senate and six new Republican State Governors elected, the first black president to reside in the Whito House is a mere shadow of his former political self this morning. It is the single biggest defeat for the party of a U.S, sitting president for 70 years. As anticipated as this may have been, seeing the results in the cold light of day is truly astounding and deeply shocking.
Only two year ago, we awoke to emotional scenes of Obama celebrating his historic election victory in front of tens of thousands of weeping people in hsi home-town of Chicago. On that night, liberals such as me, were mesmerised by his achievement and moved in the knowledge that a highly intelligent, progressive politician was going to the White House. After eight tired years of George W. Bush, not a man who I would describe as intelligent, Obama's victory seemed like a dream come true. His slogan of Yes We Can, appeared to have come true. Alas, it was an illusion.
Thankfully, the newly formed right wing force in the Republican Party, named the Tea Party, failed to make any significant inroads. I hope that by the time you, my dear Yael, get around to reading this, the name of Sarah Palin will be nothing but a distant memory. Because it is this brainless and yet dangerous woman who has become the arch symbol of this ridiculously right-wing political cult. I can survive the Republicans, but the Tea Party makes me squirm.
If the battering of the Democratic party wasn't bad news enough, the Californian people voted against the legalisation of pot yesterday, much to the delight of the criminal fraternity. Only some 45 percent of so of those who voted, supported repealing the law which prohibits canabis. Supporters of the legislative change say they failed to get enough people in favour to actually get out and vote. My guess is that they were too preoccupied, smoking dope. But in realisty, I doubt that the average person who smokes the stuff could really care less which way the law swings. Just because it's illegal doesn't make it difficult to obtain.
So as the White House remains cannabis free, the Obama adminsrtration will be struggling to work out a new strategy in the light of this utterly differant political landscape today.
But I can promise you one thing. When I next have to listen to the screaching voice of that Sarah Palin, your grandfather will be sure to be rolling a nice fat splif, whether legal or not
Grandpa Jonathan
Prague, Czech Republic
