So, the 2018 midterm elections are over and some of us are suffering a day after political hangover from lack of sleep. I must confess I am one of those victims as I like to surf the net into the wee hours of the following morning watching the trends and what they mean. And despite the mainstream, left leaning pundits who see the results as a slap at Trump, history proves otherwise. In fact, Trump's efforts were stellar and paid off with the election being nowhere near a Blue Wave. Sure Trump's Republican Party lost in the neighborhood of thirty seats in the House of Representative (some are yet to be decided), but he also picked up a number of Senate seats at the same time that two of his biggest party opponents, the late John McCain and Jeff Flake will be gone. That's amazing on it's own.
History shows that a President in the midterm election of his first term loses thirty six or more House seats on average and as many as five Senate seats in that election. Both Bill Clinton and Barack Obama were shellacked in their first midterm and the only exception in recent years was George Bush in 2002. Remember, that was the year after 9-11 and the voters opted to stay with the current team because of the unique situation that was an anomaly.
The Democrats didn't do themselves any favors either as they watched their Blue Wave turn into a purple puddle. Picking the public fight over the confirmation of Justice Kavanaugh backfired on them and their open support for the caravans of illegals to the United States drew additional support to the Republicans due to concerns over national sovereignty and safety. And then, running very far Left radicals like Robert O'Rourke, aka "Beto," in Texas, Andrew Gillum in Florida, and Stacey Abrams in Georgia failed. They poured huge dollars and Hollywood hype into those campaigns and again came up short.
If the Democrats want to try and get something done that both sides can agree on, Trump is willing to talk. But if the plan is more "Russia, Russia, Russia" and the like, Trump himself is willing to play that game and with the Senate Judiciary Committee still wanting answers to questions and the Republicans remaining in charge, a stalemate of charges and counter-charges could result. Trump knows that, but the question is do the Democrats realize that as well? Only time will tell.
Trump has one big advantage if things get tough. He has the "bloody pulpit" and he has a two year track record of results. And the Democrats? Well, the last two years were spent trying to stonewall the President and two more years of that would make their leading role in the House very short-lived for sure. I will hope for the best but not be surprised about anything that might result. These are perilous times in America for sure.
History shows that a President in the midterm election of his first term loses thirty six or more House seats on average and as many as five Senate seats in that election. Both Bill Clinton and Barack Obama were shellacked in their first midterm and the only exception in recent years was George Bush in 2002. Remember, that was the year after 9-11 and the voters opted to stay with the current team because of the unique situation that was an anomaly.
The Democrats didn't do themselves any favors either as they watched their Blue Wave turn into a purple puddle. Picking the public fight over the confirmation of Justice Kavanaugh backfired on them and their open support for the caravans of illegals to the United States drew additional support to the Republicans due to concerns over national sovereignty and safety. And then, running very far Left radicals like Robert O'Rourke, aka "Beto," in Texas, Andrew Gillum in Florida, and Stacey Abrams in Georgia failed. They poured huge dollars and Hollywood hype into those campaigns and again came up short.
If the Democrats want to try and get something done that both sides can agree on, Trump is willing to talk. But if the plan is more "Russia, Russia, Russia" and the like, Trump himself is willing to play that game and with the Senate Judiciary Committee still wanting answers to questions and the Republicans remaining in charge, a stalemate of charges and counter-charges could result. Trump knows that, but the question is do the Democrats realize that as well? Only time will tell.
Trump has one big advantage if things get tough. He has the "bloody pulpit" and he has a two year track record of results. And the Democrats? Well, the last two years were spent trying to stonewall the President and two more years of that would make their leading role in the House very short-lived for sure. I will hope for the best but not be surprised about anything that might result. These are perilous times in America for sure.
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