The Democratic Majority?

The Democrats have been in control of Congress and have had the Presidency for about a year now and it’s amazing what they’ve done with the place. You’d think they’d be sitting pretty on a big pile of legislative accomplishments, but oddly they seem to be stalling. The honeymoon only lasted a few months. The Democrats started moving forward with the plans they felt their 2008 victory mandated. Unfortunately, 2008 was more of a referendum on Bush’s presidency than it was a ringing endorsement of the Democrats big plan to remake America. The Democrats are now trying to stick enough fingers in the leaky dam to keep it from busting in 2010.

Despite Nancy Pelosi’s fabulous spin, after the losses in Virginia and New Jersey Democrats saw the writing on the wall. Among the first major retirements is Chris Dodd. Sliding in the polls and almost certain to lose, it was an easy call. The state’s Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who is on task to replace Dodd as the Democratic candidate is well known and a much stronger candidate. It’s all about saving seats and stemming the tide.

Next to go will be Harry Reid. After his unfortunate statements about Obama’s being “light-skinned” and lacking a “Negro dialect,” Reid’s poll numbers will likely to continue to go South with his support. The statement, while seemingly intended as an assessment of race issues in politics today, paints the President as a media image to be packaged and handled. Condescending at best. Reid has to choose between a humiliating defeat or retirement. If he chooses Dodd’s path, the local Democrats would then be free to run a fresh face and distance themselves from the mess Congress has created.

More retirements will certainly come. Long-serving Democrats will take the easy way out and will likely be given a nice cushy appointment to soften the blow of taking one for the team. Where did it all go wrong? Hubris and spending wears thin pretty quick and Congress wallowed in both.