A New Day in America

The American people have spoken, and the message is as clear as it is simple: 2008 was not the the kind of change that they hoped for.

So what if the Senate was never seriously in play? The House of Representatives is closer to the people anyway, and the results there were astounding: a 63 seat swing as of this writing, and perhaps a few more as close races are resolved. Republican gains in governor's seats and state legislatures were significant. This leaves the GOP with plenty to work with in the next two years ahead of the 2012 elections: 2/3rds of the federal government is still held by the Democrats, which allows room to criticize Washington excess all the more, while taking control of a redistricting process all but certain to aid further Republican political gains.

Yet even looking at the upper House, the GOP did gain big in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky, while Taking President Obama's old seat in Illinois. Couple this with a virtual Republican win in West Virginia, and there may be a virtual GOP control of the Senate anyway.

We now have true hope and change at our fingertips. If the GOP has learned anything, it is that a return to its roots appeals to the majority of Americans. Fiscal discipline, lower taxes, spending cuts, small government; all these things are important to the average Joe. Further, Americans don't want to apologize for being Americans. Part of the win last night was that most Americans believe in American Exceptionalism, the creed that it is the ideas on which our nation is based along with the drive of individuals who believe in themselves which has made our country great. There is no arrogance in that; it's actually rather humbling when felt properly. Americans quickly tired of their own President apologizing for their being American.

There is a new dawn in America. It simply came in 2010, and not 2008.