I am a natural conservative because economic freedom (and social freedom) matters a great deal to me. Because in our current political configuration in virtually any election, wherever and whenever, I’ll root for the chap(ette) running on the right since I basically believe in lower (and lowering taxes) for all.
As an example as a half-Iranian I personally wouldn’t like Iran to be bombed to smithereens and I see President Obama having a much lower chance than Gov. Romney of doing that. Even despite the neocon claptrap (which I’ve thankfully disavowed in favour of a more isolationalist policy) I still hew towards the Republicans and still rooted for Romney despite his jingoism towards the Eyeranians.
However after Dubya’s victory 12yrs ago (which I was ecstatic about) I’m now glad that Obama has won 2 consecutive elections despite my natural instinct towards the Republican Party.
Personally I think someone like Governor Romney (protocol dictates that he be referred to by his last senior title from what I remember) would have been great for the American Economy but not so great for the American Society.
We have yet to see a first Mormon, Jewish or Female President but I do think the American people have a strange unique genius (probably inherited from their “British ancestors”, the Tory-dwelling middle classes of the Home Counties, with a direct lineage back to the Magna Carta) in instinctively sensing what their Great Country needs. A strong black President, with a strong second mandate proving he was no token elect (he just beat the successful slick white Christian businessman) is a powerful statement in a country where African-Americans were the only population group to be enslaved.
I’m proud to see that despite the racial gap and the “close calls” Obama basically won in a landslide (33 seats more than he needed) and that ultimately the people of Middle America (Ohio, Wis) got him there.
America is moving beyond a race and class conscious society (the reality on the ground may still have to catch up) since ultimately the American President is an Elected Monarch. When a people elect someone like Obama they are signifying a continued transformation of their society. Romney may have been Reagan 2.0 (we’ll never know now) but the American people don’t want to tread back to the past but rather march forward into the future.
The Republicans happily oversaw the crisis that led to American households losing 40% of their wealth in 5yrs. Now is the time for some social cohesion, consolidation and national unity rather than break-neck economic growth and divisiveness (47% / the 1% etc).
The election was as close to a landslide as possible and in fact the excessive partisanship (which I see as passion) is what regenerates and rejuvenates the American political system. The two-party system allows a broad coalition to develop and now the Republicans will now have to find a way to rebalance their tent (Hispanics are probably going to have to splinter as a voting bloc in the way Jews are finally beginning to do – 30% of them did go to Romney)
I’m sad Romney lost but in a way I’m glad because I think the world needs another 4yrs of Obama to restore and heal a very damaged and fraying status quo. Let the Left Reign for now so that the wounded Right can fight to win another day as it sure will.