Brilliant Words From a Brilliant Mind on Politics (My Brother)

Many McCain voters have expressed great disappointment and even bitterness about the outcome of our presidential election.

Thoughtful reflection leads me to be neither disappointed nor bitter - but optimistic.

Several thoughts come to mind:

1. My spirits are raised and I am more optimistic about the future of our country now than I would have been if we had a different outcome. I am gratified to see how much the hopes and aspirations of so many have been raised by Obama's vision and his ability to articulate it - even though there are certain areas where I disagree with his specifics - And the almost universal welcoming of the results by other nations also raises my hopes for better international relations.

2. My respect for McCain increased when I saw the graciousness and positive tone of his concession speech. A great man indeed - and he would have made a much better president that GW - but the time wasn't right for him 8 years ago and Bush's failed leadership made it impossible for any Republican to win this time around - even without the financial melt-down.

3. Looking back on it, you have to respect Obama's leadership in planning and skillfully executing a truly outstanding and obviously very successful presidential campaign. Moreover, because of item 2 above - the democratic candidate was destined to win - so his greater achievement was not defeating McCain, but in defeating Hillary for the nomination.

4. This can be viewed as a classic, hard-fought battle between the "Haves" and the "Have-Nots" (increase taxes on those earning over $200K/yr - and decrease everyone else's taxes) and the Have-Nots won. In a democracy, it is imperative that the Have-Nots win from time-to-time, else gap between rich and poor continues to increase to a point where the poor rise up against the rich, blood is shed and anarchy prevails. It is clear to me those of us who earn over $200K/yr should be willing to endure the hardships of giving up just a bit of our largess - whether it be hard-earned or inherited.

5. I believe we are in the process of reinventing ourselves and re-defining our country... Like we did under FDR's leadership to bring us out of the great depression in the 1930's and win WW2 and like we did again (to a somewhat lesser degree) in the early 1980 under Ronald Regan's leadership when we strengthened our economy and won the cold war ...

6. Well, the cold war is over and whether we like it or not, we are now engaged in a religious/philosophical war with the world of Islam (mainly extremists - but tacitly supported by the mainstream) - where our enemy's main weapon is terrorist tactics - primarily suicide bombers. They are taught from birth to hate us and even more to hate and fear the freedom we enjoy.

7. We are also continuing an energy-consumption binge while our enemy (the Islamic world) is in control of our primary source of energy... Now, there is a problem for our new leader... The solution will not be easy and will take time. (sacrifice,even?)

8. We all need to rally behind our new leader and hope he can lead us out of a difficult situation. We are going to see some major changes - can you argue that they are not needed? Some of them, we won't like - who wants to pay higher taxes?!... Change is inevitable.. we all need to learn to live with the new reality - not by lowering our standards or our expectations, but by raising them - That is what Obama has already done for more that half of the American people... Quite an accomplishment, I would say - and we all need to jump on "the bandwagon of optimism" ... Don't be bitter... Don't be a cry-baby... Be an American!

Tom Richards
(disclaimer -
thoughts expressed by Tom Richards are his own and not necessarily shared by Rush Limbaugh)