For over a thousand years, Roman conquerors returning from the wars enjoyed the honor of a triumph - a tumultuous parade. In the procession came trumpeters and musicians and strange animals from the conquered territories, together with carts laden with treasure and captured armaments. The conqueror rode in a triumphal chariot, the dazed prisoners walking in chains before him. Sometimes his children, robed in white, stood with him in the chariot, or rode the trace horses. A slave stood behind the conqueror, holding a golden crown, and whispering in his ear a warning: that all glory is fleeting.

A line by Patton in the Movie Patton (1970)

While Patton is a movie, there is a strong lesson here that many Democrats and netrooters should listen to. After all, while the Netroots helped Tester to his win, they also made Joe Lieberman the most powerful Senator for the next two years. Plus many of those Democrats who won Tuesday are from the center and don’t share all of the goals of the far left wing of the party.
The United States Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson, famously asserts:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men.”

Power is linked to the people, not a party or government in this republic. It is we the people, not we the party or government. The rights of men do not come from the state, nor a party, but God.

The people loan the power to leaders, not give it. In turn leaders need to honor the trust the people have given them, not boast about wins. You don’t get political capital, you get a loan from the people, who demand a return on their investment. These last two years George Bush forgot power is a loan from the people and the people decided to put some venture capital in the Democrats last Tuesday. For many people (voters) that was not done out of love of the Democrats, but much more out fear of letting George Bush’s loan power go unchecked.

When I played hockey as a child I had a habit of falling down after shooting a really hard slap shot. But when it went in a garbage goal was still a goal. At the same time I still had to improve my shot to have the coach keep me in the game. After, sometimes you are not blessed with an opponent, who’s weaknesses are so plain that even his supporters will give you a tryout as a starter. People will be watching carefully. The Democrats still need to fix their ground game, talk about issues in a manor that people who don’t live in a coastal city can understand, and embrace the new technologies and media that are emerging. After all, a wave like this does not come often enough to build a long lasting relationship with the people to have them loan you their power on a regular basis.
So be be humble and thank the people.

After all Jefferson said in his first inaugural address, “I avail myself of the presence of that portion of my fellow-citizens which is here assembled to express my grateful thanks for the favor with which they have been pleased to look toward me……”

The loan of the power to lead in this great republic is a great gift with awesome responsibilities. Hopefully a lesson from this election is that actions are starting to speak louder than words again.
There are many lessons which framers left us. The fact that some have twisted them at times does not lessen their value nor does it give justification to ignore them. Now would be a good time for all Americans to review  those lessons to aid us in the great challenges ahead.
In in other words:

When you got the ball, you can stay a starter, if you do well. When you don’t, sometimes you don’t even get to keep your spot on the bench.

Technorati Tags: Jefferson, Democrats, Election, Power, Patton, Slaves, People