Electoral process gives brief respite from utter hopelessness

Sometimes the little things in life give us the most pleasure. Take, for instance, the election last week. Diminutive Nancy Pelosi, representing a political party many had written off forever, became Speaker of the House in one of the most stunning electoral victories since Arnold Schwarzenegger was re-elected as Govornator of California.

It was a pleasure to hear the punditocracy backpedal from its derision of the former minority party and jump on the Democratic bandwagon.

Even the detestable and drug-addled Rush Limbaugh distanced himself from his thuggish handlers, claiming that he felt "liberated" by Democratic victories in the House and Senate because he is "no longer going to have to carry the water for people (he doesn't) think deserve having their water carried." He also claimed that the Republican Congress has produced legislation "that (he has) just cringed at, and it has been difficult (for him) coming in here, trying to make the case for it when the people who are supposedly in favor of it can't even make the case themselves."

I'll pause now for a moment to relish in delicious reflection at the end of six years of political misery, and give in for just a moment to the sweet odor of hope.

In the wake of a major "thumpin'" — to quote the president himself — Howard Dean is being hailed as a genius. Of course, there are those who thought that back in 2003 when the same brilliant bunch of talking heads — the Wolf Blitzers and the Tucker Carlsons of the political world — painted him as angry and crazy.

The point that they missed was that a large portion of Americans were pissed off about our tragic societal tailspin, and now the larger American public has finally caught on and joined those who were already sick of the BushCo cabal and the one-party state.

Hopefully, a new era of accountability will be ushered in with this obvious message from the American public.

Many political wonks and wannabes council caution to the newly-elected Democratic majority, but I think the Democrats should take on the scorched-earth policy of the Republicans, and get this country back on track as soon as possible.

Bush should be impeached for dragging us into a foolish political war that we have lost and will continue to lose until a few remaining American citizens are plucked off the roof of Baghdad's Green Zone 10 years from now, alá Saigon on April 29, 1975.

The U.S. of A. is lucky that I don't hold a position of power, because I'd immediately bring on a constitutional crisis by frog-marching the whole lot of these bastards straight to the nearest international criminal court—although to be fair, Rumsfeld already appears to be on his way. After being canned by Bush, he is about to face repercussions for his involvement in the "war on Terr'r," as Germany's top prosecutor will seek a criminal investigation and prosecution of Rumsfeld. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, former CIA director George Tenet, and other senior U.S. civilians and military officers will also be charged for their alleged roles in abuses committed at Abu Ghraib and the detention center at Guantanamo Bay.

The case will likely be symbolic at best, as our government will harbor these criminals and protect them from prosecution. Rummy will probably even get a Medal of Freedom out of the deal, not to mention the millions of dollars in profit he's received from steering tax dollars into the coffers of American defense contractors.

The other war profiteers, and their enablers in Congress, should be dragged off in chains for real jail terms, although realistically I know that won't happen, since many Democrats are equally guilty in this nasty episode in American history.

For the past 12 years — since Newt Gingrich and the dawn of the Republican Revolution — the Neocons, Theocons, and fringe rightwing radicals of the Republican Party have done everything they can to bring our country to its knees, from the trumped-up impeachment of Bill Clinton to the suspension of habeas corpus.

Don't get me wrong. I have no particular love for Clinton, although at least he was articulate and a much better representative of our country than our current imbecilic president. He's done more for the Neocons than Ronald Reagan ever did. When I think of stuff I would have impeached Clinton for, NAFTA and the Telecommunications Deregulation Act of 1996 are the first things that come to my mind.

He has also provided a handy target — along with Hillary — and a useful "straw man" that the mainstream press has happily perpetuated as a target of blame for Republican f--- ups.

I don't expect Democratic power to be the magic elixir that suddenly makes the world a better place. They are politicians after all, so the powerful elites of the "Iron Triangle" will get away with their ill-gotten booty, and Bush's cabal will likely get away unscathed. But at least it appears as if Bush will get his comeuppance in the annals of history as the worst president ever.

If nothing else, the election proves that maybe our electoral process is not beyond redemption after all.