Some reflections and Some Promises...

So thanks to the world of blogging we can barf our thoughts on anything out into the open air of the interwenbsnet. And of course most of thoughts now drift to that hazy business we call "the future." But, as I am a weary sonnabitch, I have a few reflections on the past for those of us still hungover from our election night antics:
1) What if the economy had been much better? What if it had waited 6 more months to shit?
2)What if McCain had picked a better VP. Someone who could have galvanized the right more strongly?
3) What if McCain had run a more efficient campaign, more on par with Obama's?
4) Watching McCain's consession speech I saw the real McCain. The McCain that I though wasn't such a bad guy 8 years ago. What would have been scariest would have been seeing that man run against Obama. It would have been a more meaningful and issues driven campaign but it also would have made an Obama victory that much harder.
Things are always tenuous and open to temptation and change. Things could have been different and we should reflect on the steps that brought us here and try and learn from them.

Now some thoughts on the future. I am a long term thinking kinda guy so even though the economy, the two wars, the ever present threat of Al Queda (as I am told) my first thoughts about what our new president will be up to settled square on the gorgeous monolitgh of a building on 1st street in Washington D.C.. That's right. You guessed it: The Supreme Court of the United State of America. It is an institution that shapes our very lives yet we know so little about it and pay it even less atttention. This attitude is dangerous and helpful to say the least about the most.
President Bush had the honor of placing two justices on the bench during his two term tenure and in so doing shifted the court much farther to the right then it had been. Until Roberts and Alito the court stuck the middle and followed public opinion (whether it liked or intended to or not). And chances are that at least 3 justices will retire. At least two of these were Democratic appointees and appointees have been known to wait until a president comes into office who will appoint someone of the same ilk as themselves. I am going to say right now that I think John Paul Stevens (who is older than Jebus) will be the first to step down. Who will replace him? I can't say. But I promise that this blog will be a go to place for keeping track of how it goes down. I would say that we can expect at least one justice to retire before the mid-terms. So get ready.