Drive Them Out

What is a free and democratic people to do when their leaders prod them into an unprovoked and unnecessary war, spilling the blood of their sons and daughters in a desolate land in pursuit of vain and foolish ends?

What is such a people to do when they hear their treasured democratic heritage mocked throughout the world and savaged at home by a government that knows neither truth nor honor?

There remains but one recourse for a people burdened with such leaders, and that is to rise in wrath and drive them out.

Drive them out of their marbled offices. Drive them from the reins of power. Drive them out.

Exactly that is the task before the American people in the election of 2006—to exact retribution, simply by casting their ballots to replace Republicans with Democrats in the halls and councils of Washington. Have no doubt about it: This is an historic choice, a choice whether an all-Republican government—House, Senate and Presidency—will be permitted to continue to run roughshod over the nation's well-being and good name, or whether it will be called to account.

At this writing, replacing the Republican majority in the House of Representatives appears likely; a change in the Senate leadership appears possible. Changing both must be the goal.

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That's why, here in Vermont, the two national races—one for Senate and one for the House—must be decided, this time, on the matter of party affiliation. It hardly matters, this year, that Martha Rainville is a likeable, intelligent, strong-minded, competent new alternative—which she is. Or that Rich Tarrant is a man of proven ability who has doggedly overcome his own inexperience and some bad advice to evolve into an independent-minded candidate with many of the most interesting ideas in the campaign.

What matters, unfortunately for Rainville and Tarrant, is that if elected to Congress, both will vote for Republican speakers and majority leaders and party whips and in so doing they will vote to keep the leadership of the national government in Republican hands. In 2006, this is an unacceptable alternative.

We need not ask candidates Peter Welch and Bernie Sanders precisely what plans they have to end the carnage that President Bush, Defense Secretary Rumsfeld and the rest have wrought. We need only ask that when in Congress the battle lines are drawn, Rep. Welch and Sen. Sanders will be on our side, on America's side, and not on the side of those whose reckless policies have placed our youths in mortal peril, ransacked our treasury, defamed our precious reputation, and eroded our security.

Vermont will do the right thing when it elects Bernie Sanders and Peter Welch to Congress on Tuesday, Nov. 7.