I am not a Republican, nor am I a Democrat or a member of the Tea Party, for that matter. In fact, I am not a member of any party. Heck, I’m not even a registered voter.
I’m just regular 17-year-old kid who happens to pay attention to politics and, until April 14, when I turn 18, I don’t have a say in any of it. All I have are my own unbiased, non-partisan opinions.
All through October, I got to see and hear and read roughly 1 billion political ads, even over here in Italy. (OK, maybe not a billion, but it was definitely a lot.) This elections, ads were no different than any other election that I have witnessed. They were pretty much the same messages of change mixed in with the always entertaining mud-slinging, of the accusatory variety. The best ones had to do with Christine O’Donnell and her supposed past endeavors into witchcraft. For the most part, I just wanted them to be over so I could get back to watching “Jersey Shore.”
So everything in this election seemed normal enough to a casual outside observer. Then the results hit the news stations, and the Republicans had seized control of the House in the biggest power swing in 70 years. Many political pundits and analysts started to say that a “Red Republican Wave” had rolled through the country.
There were numerous wins all across the country by the Republican Party, headlined by Nancy Pelosi being knocked from her role as speaker of the House, four years after her historic ascension to it. And many political experts regarded her as one of the most effective speakers in recent memory. But her success and association with the voter-hated health care reforms made her a prime target in the Republican Party’s campaign to take back power in the government. Republican Mark Kirk even won the Illinois seat that was President Obama’s just two years ago. That’s got to sting a little. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said of the election, “Tonight the voters ensured their message was heard loud and clear.”
But what was this message? I mean, obviously the voters weren’t happy with the Democratic leadership in Washington, but what was really accomplished by winning back the majority in the house? Last time I checked, the Senate was still held by the Democrats, and, correct me if I’m wrong, but I do believe President Obama is still a Democrat, so what can be accomplished now, with a virtual tie in power? Absolutely nothing. Now we as a country, whether you are a Republican or a Democrat, get to wait until the 2012 election for any change or progress to come out of Washington, whether you think it is good or bad.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid validates my point by saying of the election: “This fight is far from over; it’s just the start of the next round.” Is it just a coincidence that Reid is a former boxer, or just ironic? So that is how it is going to be in Washington for the next two years: Two political heavyweights dueling it out in Washington, endlessly trading punches, when in the end the match will be a draw.
So, yes, the voters showed that they don’t like the health care reforms or anything else Obama is doing, and yes, they showed it when it came time to vote. Now the country gets to sit in gridlock worse than Blake Street after a Rockies playoff game, and stew and wait and fester and simmer until the 2012 election finally arrives. Then the Democrats will try and retain some control and the Republicans will charge ahead to try and take it. One thing I am certain of is that I don’t think my first election as a voter will be any more exciting.
Ryan Wheeler (rwheeler35@comcast.net) of Parker is a junior at Ponderosa High School who is spending his school year as an exchange student in Italy.
