November 05, 2008 09:18 PM UTC

OK, What's Next?

• 6 Comments
• by: Car 31

Congratulations to all who fought and tried in the 2008 election.  From the historic Presidential choice to the nail biter school bond issues, we came, we spoke, we chose.  The beginning has been written and now it is up to us to write the next chapter.  How should it be written?

Party’s over, time to go to work.

The President

Obama showed his managerial and organizational strengths throughout his campaign.  He will need both of these skills to move the country towards where we should be. His charisma and words have energized and inspired millions in our land, but what’s next?  President elect Obama will face systemic, cultural, bureaucratic, military and economic problems few of his predecessors have seen.  Where do you see him going?  What should he absolutely include in the first 100 days?  What shouldn’t he tackle right out of the gate?  Is it reasonable to have high expectations when limitations are so prevalent?

Congress

Coloradans gave a strong mandate to the federal Democratic delegation.  Two Democratic Senators and a new Democratic Representative with two safe Republicans holding a limp GOP minority.  Udall will be better than Allard but what should the Salazar/Udall team push? Will a Coloradan get an appointment in Obama’s administration?  What can the Colorado delegation do for the country and the state? What does Markey need to do to hold her seat?

The State

Internally, our state didn’t change much.  The Democrat/Republican power pendulum nudged left.  There’s no new mandate for the Dems within the state.  The ballot initiative the Governor spent political capital on failed; yet, so did a similar initiative brought forth by a Republican rival.  Labor won at a cost of compromising with business.  Social conservatism again failed at the ballot; yet, fiscal conservatism wins again. The poor economy helped kill the tax measures, but CO is weathering the storm better than other states so how much did/will that effect the future?

What’s next?  Democrats have used their power fairly wisely within the state, moving ahead slowly but as steady as possible under TABOR/Ref C/budget constraints… Republicans are floundering for a message and a strong leader; yet, haven’t lost as many state races as some expected.  Should the Governor now make his voice heard instead of allowing it to be drowned in studies and panels?  Should the Legislature continue to refer ballot measures for additional revenue in two years?  What do we do about Ref C?  Is there a sequel in the works – Ref C Deux, son of a Ref C, Revenge of the C? What about the impending Sec of State appointment?

Locally

Voters declined to approve many school bond issues, including two in Douglas County that will result in fewer teachers.  County Commissioners, for the most part kept their seats and not much changed. Republican commissioners continue on in Arapahoe and Jefferson counties, even though their counties went for Obama.  Garfield county kept a Republican even though the impacts of oil and gas are straining the county seams. Former Sen. Johnson beat a Democratic to become a commissioner in Larimer county and Weld County Republican Barbara Kirkmeyer, of DOLA infamy, is back in public life after a tornado literally brought her back from obscurity.

All politics are local, so where should local politics go from here?  Are Coloradans still unwilling to go the full nine yards for the Dems on a local level? The Democratic wave didn’t include our local races so what does that mean about us as Coloradans?

Summary

Voters spoke loudly to influence history yesterday and a new day dawns, but are Americans ready to sacrifice in order to bring history to bear?  We’re still a nation divided, facing enormous challenges.  Goodwill and emotion only get us partway.  The past has not worked and the future is about to be written.  

Will you help write it?