Who can resist a blog after the US midterms… It seems a million years since we last received good news politically. The Democrats have swept the board in a total repudiation of Donald Trump and his policies. Voters in exit polls showed their anger at the state of the economy, the health of US democracy, perceived corruption and that is before a focus on the Iran war now costing some $47 billion.
Internationally, faith has been restored in American voters. They rejected some vile candidates with filthy political tactics. Elon Musk wasted an incredible $200 million on the midterms, nearly $50 million alone on supporting a deeply unpleasant Republican candidate, Ken Paxton in Texas, backed by Trump, who was defeated by James Talarico. Talarico becomes the first Democratic senator in Texas for 38 years. Kansas elected a Democratic senator for the first time in almost 100 years! Record busting statistics are everywhere. Democrats have seized the Senate and will have a huge majority in the House of Representatives.
They should enjoy their moment in the sun before the hard work begins. Despite the size of victory which can bring its own problems, it is worth remembering these results were more a repudiation of Trump than an embrace of Democrats. The party is almost as unpopular as the GOP.
The new majority party is entitled to go after the president, his family and friends for alleged corruption. It must scrutinise Trump’s policies domestically and rein him in internationally. But please don’t waste time on impeachment. This is becoming a pointless addiction in US politics. Trump was democratically elected. Impeachment would not pass the Senate where a two thirds majority is required, and voters want their concerns closer to home addressed not inward looking congressional wrangling.
Now is the time to craft policies that meet voters’ concerns. Now is the time to avoid a pointless left/right split within the Democratic Party. Now is the time to search for an outstanding presidential candidate, and there are many potential ones, who can unite the party and storm to victory in the next presidential election.
Donald Trump said if he was on the ballot the results would have been very different. Oh, never fear, Donald, you were, you were. What was not on the ballot was a future Democratic presidential candidate, a united Democratic Party and meaningful policies to turn the country around in the face of Trump’s often appalling governance.
Two years is a long time in politics. Democrats must now prove their worth.
