The Bush Legacy

A staggering second successive electoral loss for the GOP.

Democrats siezed not only the White House in an electoral college blowout, but added at least five (and possibly a couple more, depending on recounts) Senate seats, and between 15 and 20 House seats, cementing their majorities in Congress.

Writing at National Review this morning, in a column aptly titled "Eight Wasted Years," John Derbyshires, notes:

Margaret Thatcher used to talk about the “ratchet effect.” When the Left gets power, she said, they drive everything Left; when the Right gets power, they slow the Leftward drive, perhaps even halt it for a spell; but nothing ever gets moved to the Right. U.S. politics in the 21st century so far bears out this dismal analysis. What does the Right have to show for eight years of a Republican presidency? I supported George W. Bush in 2000 because I thought he had a conservative bone in his body somewhere. I supported him in 2004 because I thought him the lesser of two evils. At this point, I wouldn’t let the fool park his car in my driveway.