The Midterms

Election season is about to close with the much anticipated and very watched midterm elections which, due to the last two years' worth of scandals, is looming to big in terms of the distribution of power in Congress.  Republicans stand to claim control of the Senate while retaining control of the House, meaning the President will have a Congress entirely opposed to him and his policies.

Conservatives are rubbing their hands with glee, Democrats are predicting gloom and doom under a Republican Congress.  Part of this is the natural ebb and flow of the midterm elections.  Some of it is real.  But an astute observer would place less importance on the midterms and await the 2016 presidential elections.

Assuming the Republicans win both the Senate and keep control of the House, the chances are slim that they will have a veto-proof majority.  That being said, the President will be able to veto any legislation Congress passes with which he disagrees.  Since he's a lame duck, he can stand on principle without worrying about reelection.  It won't hurt other Democrats in 2016 because people will focus on the veto and not how individual representatives voted, for the most part.  Republicans could be seen as intransigent by passing bills that oppose the President's policies.  What's more, they could make major mistakes in passing certain types of legislation not favored by a majority of the country.  Add to that the specter of some unforeseen event happening during the last two years, and the what is seen as a Republican victory dims.

Moreover, there are the 2016 elections, which could reverse the gains of these midterms. Republicans, then, could only be in control for two years.  That's not a lot of time to get an agenda made into law.

Plenty of pressing issues need resolution.  Beyond that, there's the gearing up for the looming presidential election in 2016.  Republicans should avoid initiating witch hunts over Benghazi, the NSA, the AP scandal, the IRS scandal, the Secret Service debacle, Fast and Furious, Obamacare and a host of other issues.  That's not to say that some of them wouldn't warrant investigations:  the IRS, Benghazi and the NSA certainly do.  Obamacare needs repealed.  But to concentrate on beating up the Democrats for their lackadaisical and highly partisan governance won't serve the American people.  People need jobs, protection from terrorism, confidence in the equanimity of government. Partisan politics only rankle most voters.

But then there's the issue of the presidential election.  Even if Republicans control both houses of Congress, a Democratic president will still be the face of government.  Presidents get far more press coverage than representatives.  With that pulpit, the President can frame the discussion far more effectively, thereby setting up the next midterms as a contest for control of Congress.  Republicans should be focused on righting the country, not defeating the Democrats.  In fact, by doing the one they can do both.  The fear is that Republicans will be so focused on pounding their chests and collecting injustices that they forget to do what the people sent them to Washington to do: Govern.

If nothing else happens, I will be happy to see the likes of Harry Reid and other wingnuts defeated. Make no mistake:  There are some conservative wingnuts, too, but Mr. Reid takes the prize as the goofiest and most out of control politician that there is.  The people of Nevada should be ashamed to have him as their representative.

If only Illinoisans could oust their slavemasters....

(c) 2014 The Truxton Spangler Chronicles