I was fourteen when the Republicans took the house. I knew about politics and had a very basic grasp of how it worked, but I was not all that concerned that the "other" party had taken power. I saw it as a natural part of the democratic system.
Then I grew up and became a much more politically aware partisan and saw how much power the majority party in the house possesses. For my entire political life the Republicans have had the balance of power in the Capitol, except maybe the last years of Clinton (even then the Supreme Court was mildly conservative and they still had the house, the agenda setting body). Its about freaking time for our side to take back some modicrum of power, the house this year, the senate and white house in 08.
It has been a lot of fun watching the election season, from the gearing up in the spring, through the summer campaigning that no one outside of the political nerdom really pays attention to, to the fall sprint to the finish. All from a place half way around the world, this campaign has been my connection with home.
I was home on leave for two weeks in October and got to go to Texas, New Jersey, and upstate New York and it was exciting to be able to be a part of a couple campaigns in the flesh and follow the news from the ground. Now its time for the pay off.
Good luck to all the fine candidates and to all the Kossaks who have volunteered time and money to the cause. Our time has come.