I wasn’t surprised by the results of Tuesday’s elections; I thought the Republican losses were a foregone conclusion, but why? What lessons should President Bush, the Republican party and the Democrats take from them?

I would hope they all realize they are reading the American people wrong. I think most Americans are moderate in their thinking, be they Republican or Democrat, and most of us want the same things. We want our nation safe, our economy strong, and for our government to work on the real difficulties facing us and deal with them. To worry less about the party line, and more about what’s good for America. I would hope both sides realize Americans are tired of the political games, and desires that all their elected representatives sit down and work together.

President Bush committed a grave error in ignoring the Democrats' legitimate concerns over the war in Iraq and the need for a careful analysis of our goals in the region, and our strategy for realizing those goals. He has stubbornly, and wrongly, refused to alter our course in Iraq. We have the finest troops on earth, dedicated and brave men and women who are sacrificing a great deal in our service in this war. I don’t believe Tuesday’s results were a mandate to leave Iraq immediately, or to establish an unrealistic time frame for doing so. I think the American people voted for a substantial change in strategy to give our troops the opportunity to accomplish the mission, turn security over to the Iraqis themselves, and pull out.

We are nearly all in agreement that the War on Terror will go on for many years. I don’t believe anyone will ever forget September 11, 2001. I believe Americans, left, right, and center, are united in the desire to defend our land and defeat global terrorism. I think Tuesday's result was a wake-up call for all our leaders from the American people. If something isn’t working out, look at the problem seriously and make changes. Don’t refuse to alter American strategy if it will save lives and bring the conflict to a swifter conclusion.

I believe most Americans think as I do. That political decisions should be made by politicians, and military decisions by the professionals on the ground. I think many are convinced this isn't the case in Iraq, that our military is facing an undue amount of political interference in their conduct of the war. Americans are angered, not only by the loss of precious young lives in Iraq, but by the refusal of the administration to consider other options. They equate “staying the course” with more unnecessary deaths without a cohesive long-term strategy. President Bush has been implacable in his stance and has refused to bring all sides of the question together to form a coherent and united policy on Iraq. If he learns nothing else from Tuesday, I hope he realizes he must bring all sides to the table. He no longer has the overwhelming majority that allowed him to ignore Democratic concerns.

Tuesday's results were a repudiation of a heavy-handed approach to governing. They were a call for a more moderate, centrist approach to problem-solving on the national level. They weren’t a mandate for the Democrats to do as they please. I hope they realize this and act accordingly.