I just listened to the President say he took “a thumpin.” It had to be a painful press conference.
The announcement of Rumsfeld’s departure was released shortly before the press conference. The immediacy of the announcement was like an admission of failure. One commentator suggested that it was an attempt by the President to foist the blame on Rumsfeld.
I was extremely happy in 1994 when the Republicans finally took back the House for the first time since 1946. At that time I felt like one of the Republicans who had been given the cold shoulder for 48 years by the American public.
Last night I was just as happy as 1994Â when the Democrats took the House back. This time I felt like it was my reward for having had the Republicans give me the cold shoulder for the last twelve years.
The modest results for the Independence party this year reinforce my sense that the vast bureaucracy, wealth and connections of the two major parties make the creation of a third major political party extremely unlikely. New parties can momentarily appeal to long ignored people thus bringing them to the attention of a major party which may have to change to get them and their votes back. While an important corrective this power is not a very satisfying consequence for someone wishing to be a part of a permanant political organization.
