Lessons learned

Buoyed by the recent Scott Brown victory in Massachusetts, the incredible victory of Ed Mangano and the return of the County Legislature, many Republicans feel that we are turning back to our conservative roots.
That presumption, in my opinion, is not only wrong but will cost us elections and set us back.
The fundamental ideology of our friends and neighbors has been conservative and just right of center.
What has changed is the people first stopped believing in the party of George W. Bush and now their disbelief has spread to the party of Barack Obama.
The lesson to be learned is not to slap slogans on the bumpers of our car and gloat.
Rather, we must stop and listen to the people and not the media. . Listen to their needs, their fears of job loss, their insecurities about their future and their desires for a better life for their children. After we listen, we must listen some more.
Then, we have the obligation to act to address their concerns then work night and day to solve their problems. If we are unable to bring closure to the needs of the people, then we must have the courage to tell them with honesty and not words buried in rhetoric

Then, and only then, will we earn the right to govern.

The lesson from the Scott Brown and Ed mangano victories is that the people are speaking loudly and in a clear tone.

The winner is the one who is listening.