My pragmatist view of the new political reality is pretty circumspect. Back to music posts after this. 1 - the country is moving inexorably to the left on social issues - marriage equality, right to die, legalization - this reflects a younger generation growing up and asserting itself, if not directly at the ballot box, in the opinions and social norms that will shape this countrys future. This will all happen no matter who is in the majority, it wont be stopped, to be outside it is to be run over by a train and made irrelevant. 2 - the Repubs campaigned on economic mobility of the middle class, not on protectionism of the 1%, and they will ignore this and focus on the 1% / periphery at their peril in 2016. Heres an interesting Slate article: slate/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2014/11/republicans_win_the_senate_by_sounding_like_democrats_america_is_moving.html 3 - a Repub majority in the Senate and House is not all bad, and something had to change to change the dynamics of gridlock in politics. Repubs have made a lot of hay out of bills stacked on Harry Reids desk, and on Obamas refusal to engage. Some of this is no doubt true, and Obama has at least appeared to be aloof and out of touch with the Congress, which is either a character flaw (in a President) or something his handlers should never have let happen. But that sword cuts both ways - the House has been able to govern, through arguably the most obstructionist agenda in the history of government (dont believe me? look it up) without fear of looking out of touch (endless repeal efforts of Obamacare, instead of willingness to entertain Repub-moderate sponsored suggestions to enhance and improve it) by blaming obstructionism on the Dems in the Senate. That largely stops now, and switches to Repubs fighting the agendas of their own extremist party elements (Mitch McConnell, meet Ted Cruz). 4 - Cruz is in line to chair the Science and Space committee - and Imhoff is in line to chair Environment / EPA (he is a climate change conspiracist) - this should provide little cover for extremist views, instead of the current popular Repub mantle of Im not qualified to discuss the science behind climate change (while voting against addressing the issues anyway). 5 - Rand Paul. Kudos for being one of the few voices in the Senate providing a fresh look (please dont pull a John McCain and try to out-conservative the others and abandon your principles), even if I think youre going to have some of the same problems that Mitch McConnell will have in fighting the Tea Party and looking Centrist on social issues (which you will need to appeal to the future leaders of this country). And kudos for being anti-war, and for understanding the pitfalls of an interventionist foreign policy (especially in the Middle East). 6 - In summary? Im hopeful this was the best possible outcome for shining a light on gridlock and providing a much cleaner window into whose agenda is gumming up the political works and just who is out of touch.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Nov 2014 14:42:04 +0000
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