MARIE WUJEK MORE COLUMNS Election Guide News, voter information Advertisement

It's Wednesday morning.

You're sitting here with your cup of coffee or hot tea reading my column. This is not just any Wednesday morning -- this is Wednesday morning, Nov. 5, the day after the 2008 election.

It's over, no more robo-calls, your mailbox isn't going to be full of campaign literature and get-out-and-vote reminders, the political signs along the roadways will slowly begin to disappear and you should start to realize some sense of normal, life-goes-on relief.

On a local and state level you have probably already heard who won. On the national front, it may still be in the air as this is predicted to be a very close race.

The battle for president of the United States, the highest position in our country, was up for election this year. Millions upon millions of dollars were spent by each candidate and his party to get their plans out to fix this country. Millions upon millions were also spent in character assassination ads and the defense of those ads.

This was by far the most negative national campaign I have ever seen, and I, for one, am glad it's over.

I, like millions of others, became bitter as hell over this "let's throw it out there and see what sticks" form of politics. Really makes me wonder about the decline of moral character in this country as well as the lack of accountability for one's previous actions and decisions that are so easily overlooked and accepted as politics as usual.

Seems you can say, accuse, embellish and exaggerate your opponent's voting record, relationships and comments and it's OK. Not in my book. Politicians who chose to follow this course have forever lost my respect whether they won or lost the office they so coveted.

I hope and pray that we all learned a lesson from these smear campaigns.

America is a great country; we need to concentrate on rebuilding and restoring American pride. We are a strong and resilient nation, we are proud of our families, our country and those who serve her.

A word of advice to those candidates that chose to run the "throw it out there and see what sticks," smear campaigns: Walk into your closet full of skeletons and try to find and recover your dignity and integrity -- you're going to need it.

If you won the brass ring due to the smear campaign you waged on your opponent, thousands, actually millions upon millions, will question everything you do or say from this day forward. If you won the brass ring by running an honorable campaign, sharpen your pencil and roll up your shirtsleeves because you have a lot of work to do.

The chosen one that moves into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue on Jan. 20, 2009, has a plethora of problems, issues, concerns and corruption to deal with both here and abroad. I hope and pray they have the intestinal fortitude and the backbone to turn this country around.

Congratulations to the winners, condolences to the losers. Remember, government is by the people and for the people. Do not for one minute forget who put you in office -- they are the same folks who can remove you from office.

For up to date local and state results visit the pahrumpvalleytimes.com Web site and select Vote 2008. We will post the winners immediately upon notification from county and state officials.

Thanks to those that exercised their right to vote.

Bless our troops, veterans and military personnel for current and past service to our country. I look forward to helping our new leadership reform and putting this country back on track. It will take sacrifice from us all, but hope, change and pursuit of the American dream can and will prevail.

We are Americans. We have weathered many a storm and not only recovered but advanced. We can do it again.