Actual photo of Larson doing research in 1957.
LARSON BLOG

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

LICKING THE WOUNDS

OK, I was wrong. Right about GOP voters "coming home" in recent days, but wrong about the overall outcome. Independents were in full anti-Bush mode. "Swing voters" showed they still have their "waver mode" in force. Here's the latest: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2637349 Makes me wonder how a 24/7 news world and continuous polling would have screwed up World War II. Now the questions remain: Will the Democrats take a "build the coaltion" approach, working to blunt stereotypes... or are they hard-wired for non-stop investigations and possible impeachment proceedings? They could learn a few things from the Governator about working to create consensus.

SENDING A MESSAGE: Many voters said they wanted to "send a message" to Bush & Co. about Iraq. I wonder how that message is received by our men and women in uniform. Is what they hear via the message "sorry, you can't cut it, you're pinned down, nice try" (ala Murtha's comments)? And the Dem's "New Direction" (high-tailing it out of there) certainly encourages the bad guys. Elections are often dramatic and politics isn't for the faint of heart, but what does this "message" say to those who've given the ultimate sacrifice for freedom? "Thanks for that, but not important.. sorry, we made a mistake?" The Democrats need to be very careful not to create a type of post-Vietnam syndrome in America, ramping up disdain for the troops.