"Read up on our (true, not revised) history. Study our founding documents. Vote the way our Framers intended this country to be run. If we do that, no matter how strong the storm is, we should be fine."
Bird! Pay attention! Your drifting again! We have a very important election coming up in 2018, not 2020! Why would you be thinking that far ahead? True - we do have a very important state and local election this year. And I will fight like crazy to get the right people elected. But despite the warnings set forth by our President (as well as others), apathy seems to have settled into the red team for this year. I am afraid he once theoretical "blue wave" might end up being more of a reality in 2018.
As of this article, over 50 incumbent House members and 3 Senators have decided to pull the plug and not run for re-election. Most are Republican. The President's base remains strong, but his unique style has also been a unifier for those on the other side of the aisle. I fear losing the Senate and maybe the House is a real possibility in 2018. History has shown this is often the case after a change in White House leadership. The following off-year elections do not usually go well for the ruling party. This year, that might be particularly bad.
That is why from a national perspective, I am looking to 2020. Even if the Republicans maintain control of the House and/or the Senate after the 2018 elections, their margins will probably be way down. The day after the results are known, posturing will have already begun for the next election - 2020. And the Democrats want the White House back so badly, they can almost taste it.
The two years leading up to 2020 are going to be crucial for both sides. The Republicans MUST show they can still govern - even with a more sharply divided government. If the two years leading up to 2020 only results in a non-stop food fight instead of good governance, 2020 is going to be a mess. Both parties will be looked upon as obstructionists, and honest solutions given by honest brokers will be rare at best. The table will be set for the formation of a strong third party (or parties).
On the bright side for the Republicans, are their unwilling and unknowing torch bearers. The people who can rally support for the red team like no others can. That would be Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi. Chuck Schumer, and of course the crowd favorite - Maxine Waters.
Win, lose or draw in 2018, once the American public gets two years of listening and watching the village idiots on the Left side of the aisle, they will be clamoring for the adults to get back in charge in 2020.
The road to 2020 promises to be bumpy and stormy. But the stakes are high. What can we do before then to prepare? Read up on our (true, not revised) history. Study our founding documents. Vote the way our Framers intended this country to be run. If we do that, no matter how strong the storm is, we should be fine.
Democrats are without viable candidates at this time.
ReplyDeleteDelany, Sanders, Biden, Warren, Booker, O'Malley, Landrieux, Harris, Ryan, Klobuchar, Gillibran, Cuomo, Brown J, Kane, Brown S, Murphy, Garcetti and Kander are all mentioned as well as Winfrey and Zuckerberg.
Even I wouldn't vote for any of them. Too much fun watching Circus Trump.
And the next few Presidents are going to have to deal with the rising debt by reducing entitlements and eliminating many programs (and they won't) as our country joins Greece, Venezuela and Argentina as sh..hole countries in financial distress. Republicans say they are fiscally conservative and would be better at reigning in spending, although we have not seen any evidence of that in the last few administrations.
Be grateful that we, Bird and I, have lived through some of the best years America had to offer. Your optimism for the future is admirable but misplaced. China will take it's place as world leader in all fields. We will be the drooling old man in the nursing home, reliving past glories. It is just the nature of things.