We call it Veteran’s Day, a new name given to this day of honor in order that we might remember all those men and women who selfishly gave their service to this country’s freedom. Originally the day was called Armistice Day, the day World War I came to a halt. In looking at today, I want to talk about the resent elections and rise of the Democrat party. It is no secret that the Democrats have been the biggest voices against the current hostilities in Iraq.
For the first time since before Clinton was President the Democrats have control over Congress. Before that, the Democrats held control over the House of Representatives since the time of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Presidency. Isn’t it ironic that the only vote against going to war with Japan in 1941 was cast by a Democrat? Republicans have always been the war hawks in this country. Just look at the Civil War, while not a declared war it was still supported primarily by Republicans. The Spanish-American war was another case of Republican desire to go to war. Can we have a Democrat majority in both our houses and still maintain our troops in Iraq? What about the conflicts with North Korea? We haven’t declared war in almost sixty-five years ladies and gentlemen. At this point in our history we need a Congress that will protect America, not appease those who wish us harm.
Is there a possibility that the Patriot Act will go by the wayside under this new Democrat majority? One can only hold their breath and pray that the Democrats have more sense in them than the Republicans on this issue. This law is equal to the Alien and Sedition Act passed under John Adams. One of the most harsh acts ever passed in America, one that was later renewed under Thomas Jefferson (whom the Democrats take as their Spiritual founder..) It is scary to think of what will happen with the Democrats in office, our soldiers may be in more peril than under the Republican majority; much worse our citizens may be in store for more danger.
Currently there is a majority of U.S. Supreme Court justices that were appointed by Republican Presidents. Of these two were appointed under Republican majorities in Congress (Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito). With Justice Stevens creeping up in age, and undoubted possibility that President Bush may have the chance to appoint his third Supreme Court justice, it is hard to imagine that we will have another Roberts or Alito appointed and confirmed by the Senate. The morals that stood for almost 200 years are going down the drain with Democrats. Rumor has it that a number of Democrats elected this past Black Tuesday are Blue Dog Democrats (Conservative Democrats). If this is the case, maybe things won’t be as bleak as they appear two months away from the 110th Congress.
For the first time in the history of America, we are poised to have a woman within smelling distance of the Presidential office. Nancy Pelosi is set to assume the command of the House of Representatives as Speaker of the House in January. If things go as planned she will be the first woman ever to hold the third highest position in America. Under traditional understandings of the twenty-fifth amendment, the Speaker of the House would become President of the United States if both the President and Vice President are unable to execute the office. In light of this first time event, I would like to bring up another first time event in Congress concerning women. The first female Representative entered office in 1917, the same day that President Woodrow Wilson’s Delcaration of War address was being considered. Along with forty-nine other Representatives, Jeanette Pickering Rankin, the first female Representative, voted no to enter the first World War. A little over two decades later Rankin was once again in the House of Representatives for an important vote. On December 8, 1941 Jeanette Pickering Rankin was the only person to vote no against a declaration of war against Japan.
On this Veteran’s Day we should be encouraged to remember the men and women who served our country in the name of freedom. We also need to look back at the Democrat victory on Black Tuesday and realize that the Democrats have hurt our country more than they have helped it. While I remain optimistic that things might turn out for the better, some part of me wants to admit that we may be heading down a dark path of no return.
