Maurice Hinchey: “on November 2, George W. Bush was reelected President of the United States, and the Republicans expanded their…”

“on November 2, George W. Bush was reelected President of the United States, and the Republicans expanded their majorities in both the House and the Senate. I congratulate President Bush and his party on this victory. I also congratulate the American people for once again proving the brilliance and foresight of our Founding Fathers who designed a system in which those who hold power are replaced or affirmed, peacefully and according to the rule of law. Never in my lifetime have the American people expressed more emotion over their choice for President. It is a testament to our Founders and to present-day Americans that this passion did not devolve into violence and lawlessness when the results were finally in and the fervent desires of so many of us were rejected. I remain deeply disappointed by the result of the 2004 election. This election exacerbated the main problem that has been at the root of all the other problems that we have experienced over the past 4 years; that is that our usual system of checks and balances has been replaced by a monolithic Federal Government. It is not just that the legislative and executive branches are controlled by the same party that I find disturbing. It is that the leaders of the majority party in Congress refuse to even question the judgment and the policies of the Bush administration. While partisan Republicans would view this as admirable party discipline, I see it as an abdication of constitutional responsibility.”