It's hard to believe it is 2010 already and Nov. 2, Election Day, is less than 10 months away.
That is how long the liberal Democrats will be in power, and I hope their careless, failed policies will not cause the country irreparable damage before we can do something about them.
We conservatives have to be activists for the next 10 months. This is not the time to run out of energy. There was a poll taken the beginning of 2009 that showed the country to be made up of 40 percent conservatives, 40 percent independents and only 20 percent liberals.
Remember, that was when most people were being charmed by Barack and company, and I am certain there are millions who now see the light and won't allow themselves to be duped again.
When I say be activists, I'm not talking the way the liberals do it with cute signs, sayings and chants. All we have to do is talk to as many of the independents as possible.
Also, not all liberals are lost. Of the 20 percent liberals, I think there are only 5 to 10 percent who are totally close-minded and beyond hope. We shouldn't waste our time and energy on them.
Actually, they will probably help us by continuing to be ranting and raving Bush haters, and most people will see that their spewing is all emotionally charged and devoid of facts.
This is what we have to capitalize on. We simply have to continue to point out the facts. Obama and the Democrat leadership are doing everything they possibly can to make our job easier.
They continue to behave like the Keystone Kops and keep shooting themselves in the foot. They seem to be out of touch with reality. It is truly unbelievable how they continue to march to the drums of their radical leftist leadership and ignore the wishes of their constituents and what is good for their country.
The only reason they believe they can do this is they think they can switch faces during campaign times and pretend to be moderates or conservative as they have done in every past election. They know that if they run as a liberal, they have no chance of being elected or re-elected.
The perfect example is President Barack Obama. If he ran on the agenda he is now promoting, the election would have been over before the last voting offices closed, and Obama would be looking for a job.
This time, we conservatives have to call liberal candidates on every lie or distortion they try to slip by the electorate. I think people will see through them this time, and we have to make sure the candidates are judged based on their past performance rather than the fake promises they will make to get re-elected.
I really don't care if they are a Republican or Democrat conservative. If they have a conservative track record and are willing to stand up to their leadership, then that is the candidate who should get our support.
Also, their arrogance is going to bury them this time. Obama was on Oprah a while back, and when asked to grade his performance thus far, he actually gave himself a B+! Talk about grade inflation!
He is continuing to destroy the economy, making us less safe from terrorism, spending recklessly and aimlessly, worsening the unemployment picture, promoting a guaranteed-to-fail national health program and on and on and on.
It's funny the public hasn't seen him the same way he does. The latest Gallup poll has him at a 47 percent approval rating, and that figure continues to spiral downward.
Both Democrats and Republicans are becoming more dissatisfied with his incompetence. One poll has his approval rating as low as 44 percent. That is a solid F in my grade book. See why I don't let my students grade themselves?
Congress is certainly not exempt from negative approval ratings. Polls had it rated at 21 percent as late as November 2009. Disturbing, for the liberals anyway, is that, as in Obama's case, the trend is downward. I'm sure they would like to grade themselves also.
So our responsibilities are pretty much set for us. We have to encourage others to speak out and support their efforts when they do. We have to write letters to the editor, stay informed and work hard for the conservative nominees.
The tea parties, which have been a huge success, must continue to grow. We have an obligation to support the organizers with our time and money this time and not let them do all the work.
Yes, Barack, hope and change are coming. It's a year late and not what you expected.
Tom Sears is a professor of accounting at Hartwick College in Oneonta. He can be reached at SearsT@hartwick.edu. His column appears every other week. His columns can be found at www.thedailystar.com/tomsears.
