MESSAGE DELIVERED

The American people have spoken...LOUDLY. And the message could not be any more clear: "We do not approve of your war and enough is enough". The days of "Stay the course" are over, George.

What a night, what a night! After six years of Emperor Bush's unfettered reign, with both houses of Congress in his back pocket...a new day has dawned. Hope shines today not only all across this great nation, but also over the deserts of Iraq.

As we savor this sweet victory today (and it appears that not only will it be a sweeping one in the House, but also control over the Senate), we must be ready to hit the ground running with an agenda to respond to the mandate Tuesday's polling brought. All of us must be prepared to work for change, not just the newly elected majority.

These men and women we send to the hill are to be held accountable for the work we have chosen them to do. Get busy:

1. First and foremost: work to dig us the hell out of the hole that Bush has thrown us and the people of Iraq into. No longer do we want to hear that the Iraqi military and police are being trained and that perhaps in "the coming years" they will be ready to take control. Timetables. Troop withdrawals. We demand them. Start bringing our brave men and women home and END THIS WAR. NOW.

2. A living wage. The days of millions of hard working Americans struggling to scrape by working three jobs with a minimum wage that is not a living wage must end. Having to choose between putting food on the table or buying medicine for our families is NOT American and is no choice at all. This is unacceptable.

3. And speaking of medicine, prescription drugs must be priced so that those who need them can actually afford them. Crazy fucking concept, I know. Prescription reform and price controls. Immediately.

4. Protect Social Security. Franklin Delano Roosevelt knew a thing or two not only about leadership and guiding this nation through the hardest of times...he understood that it is our responsibility to take care of those who have taken care of us their entire lives. We neither need, nor want Republicans gambling with our senior citizen's well being...privatization of Social Security is just plain wrong.

5. And while it may not happen over the next two years...begin to lay the groundwork for universal healthcare for all Americans. Nearly fifty million citizens of the most prosperous nation on earth can't afford health insurance. That is absolutely obscene, and shames me...as it should all of us. The wealthiest Americans and the overstuffed insurance companies have engorged themselves long enough. It's time to take care of our own.

Enjoy this day and the victory...and then let's roll up our sleeves, and get to work fixing what's wrong. America spoke on Tuesday. Let's make certain that those we screamed at heard us.

Take a moment to contact your representation and let them know that we've all got work to do.

it ain't me...i ain't no senator's son.