The End of an Era

Let's pause and think about this for a minute.

When Gene Taylor was elected to his first term in Congress, the Presidential ticket was Michael Dukakis and Lloyd Benson against George Bush Sr. and Dan Quayle. Ryan was 10 years old. I was in my first semester of college, graduating high school five months before. Orel Hershieser single-handedly beat the New York Mets and the Oakland A's to lift the Dodgers in the World Series. (Ok, I'll give you a little help from Kirk "I can't believe what I just SAW!" Gibson) Joe Montana gave his immortal "Hey look! It's John Candy in the stands!" comment in the huddle during the game clinching final drive leading the 49ers over the Bengals the January after the election. Hill St. Blues was still on TV. St. Elsewhere was still on TV. Johnny Carson hosted the Tonight Show. Pope John Paul II was 9 years into his papacy. The Prime Minister of Great Britain was Margaret Thatcher. There was a Berlin Wall. There was a Soviet Union, led by Mikhail Gorbachev.

The 100th Congress, still in session at the time of the election, was led in the Senate by the Vice President, George Bush Sr, and the Senate Majority Leader, John C. Stennis of MS. The Speaker of the House was Jim Wright of Texas.

(Some perspective. Including the outgoing President, three Nimitz Class aircraft carriers are named after members of the Administration and Congress active at the time of Gene Taylor's election.)

In a region defined by storms, Hurricanes Hugo, Gilbert, Andrew, Opal, Danny, Georges, Ivan, Mitch, Katrina, Rita and Wilma all either hit, brush past or threaten his district.

My entire voting life, (turned 18 in August the year Gene was elected) Gene Taylor represented Mississippi's 4th Congressional District. I voted for him every election from 1996 to 2008.

But not 2010.

It is sad that good people like Gene Taylor lose their seats and meat heads like Pelosi and Reid keep theirs.