The balloons have fallen, the victory speeches have been made and now it is time to get down to business. Let's begin by cleaning house, shall we? We'll start with all those who opposed President-elect Barack Obama. I hate to say it, but this isn't winning any votes of confidence from me regarding the direction in which our country is bound to move.

On Tuesday, the Democratic caucus voted 42-13 against a resolution that condemned the statements made by Sen. Joe Lieberman during the 2008 bid for the Whitehouse. As a long-time friend of Sen. John McCain there was no surprise as to where Lieberman's loyalties resided. However, a witch hunt is afoot. Sen. Bernie Sanders implied that Lieberman's alliance with the Republican Party might undermine the country as a whole. "Appointing some to a major post who led the opposition to everything we are fighting for," said Sanders, "is not 'change we can believe in.'" What about the change we want?

We have recently seen a great shift of power in this country as a whole. Presumably the people have spoken, but there will be a need for a proper check-and-balance system to ensure both parties are heard and there is even control in the government. This balance is at risk of being lost.

This is pointedly clear with the attempted ousting of Lieberman from his positions in the Senate. If we allow our senators political control that would exclude anyone who doesn't agree with their views, then I am afraid that means government will not benefit the people. We have seen it in the past with the Roosevelt, Carter and Bush administrations. If there is a one-sided senate serving concurrently with the presidential administration, the voice of Joe the Plummer won't be heard - regardless of political affiliations.

A sense of doom is apparent in many on the conservative right. With many ideals that are so contrary to my own, I find it hard to put faith in a Democratic Senate to not only benefit me, but also to leave me alone. Now that this search has begun to shun the non-believers of the anointed one, what does that mean for me? I did not support President-elect Obama, but I have decided to reserve judgment regarding his capabilities until I see where we are headed. However, if a good senator like Lieberman is going to get the axe for his decisions, then what about the common man who chose something different? Is this to become the new status quo? Are we to shun, refuse and destroy anything that doesn't assimilate? I had a similar incident during the 2004 election. I was berated and asked not to post to a folder anymore because my choice in voting was too "republican" to fit their diversity mold. I don't find this kind of "citizenry" appropriate.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid made a statement to diffuse the impending witch hunt. "I defy anyone to be more angry than I was," he said in caucus on Tuesday. "Is this a time when we walk out of here and say, 'Boy, did we get even?'" Probably. But that is something that will never be uttered in public. The thick of it is that if you are not in the Obama class, then there is a fair chance you will not see the kind of representation you want. It's time to batten down the hatches folks, and pray for daylight. "Change we can believe in?" Indeed.

Brian Curry is a senior foresty and environmental science student.

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