Prophecy fulfilled

I posted for awhile on Winds of Change. Back in early 2007 I published a deeply pessimistic essay on the future of the USA called, "The Gathering Gloom."

In my studies of American history, I cannot identify another time when both political parties were of such small ideals, little intellect, less vision and greater selfish interest than both parties are now. The American people are more poorly served by our national political figures now than ever. We've certainly had times when one party or the other was miserable, but fortunately there were some voices within them who were heeded for renewal and during such times there was a reservoir of excellence in the other party. Today neither the Republicans or the Democrats have anything to commend them to the admiration of future historians and there exists no one in either party who can possibly lead them out of the swamp. McCain? Pelosi? Obama? Gingrich? It is to laugh. Then cry.

To which commenter Grim (heh!) responded,

However, we also have a class of fighting men with more combat experience, per man, than at any time in US history. Some of them will enter politics.

The Senate will take quite a while to be changed to a great degree, but I would not be surprised to see the House changed in the next two or three election cycles to include several such figures. I think they will be a renewing force in our politics, which surely needs renewing.

And so this headline this week: "Soldier-Citizens to the Rescue?"

Usually a handful of ex-soldiers seek political office every election cycle. But well over 20 Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans are running this fall for Congress alone. Almost all are riding a wave of public anger at incumbents over a profligate government and dishonest Wall Street -- and a general feeling that the current Democratic remedy has proven as bad as, or worse than, the recent Republican disease. ...

The current combat-veteran candidates certainly aren't the usual state legislators or congressional aides ready for career advancement. Neither are they anti-war liberals who flash their national-security credentials, nor one-issue hawks who want more defense spending. They don't claim that their combat experience guarantees good governance per se ... .

Read the whole thing. An interesting corollary headline is this one: "32 black Americans running for Republican Congressional seats with endorsements from the Tea Parties." One of these candidates is retired Lt. Col. Allen West, who commanded a combat battalion in Iraq in 2003. West is polling even in Florida's 22nd Congressional District with Democrat incumbent Ron Klein. West challenged Klein two years ago, but the anti-incumbent sentiment among voters today is expected to put West into the seat come November. Looks like Grim was prophetic three years ago.