OK, I'll Stick Around

Oh, Frabjous Day!

 

This was it for me--I was not going to stay for two more years of this monstrous administration with no challenge for Congress. So I am pleased and relieved at this massive rejection of Trumpist rule.  This marks a turning point leading to the end of the Drumpfenreich.

The national vote shifted by some 15%, an astounding change in two years. It was even greater than that in many red-state districts and some statewide races in red states.  This was positively seismic.   

Trumpism as a sort of ideology, or better a collective abdication of the senses, a charm spell for too many, has been dealt a mortal blow, but is it dead yet?  Initial indications from the President and from the response of the Republican House leaders suggest that they have not yet learned the lesson.  If their course does not change, they will have to suffer another resounding defeat in 2028, something we can work to make happen. 

I look at the vote as being like an intervention on the Republican party.  We voters saw the harm being done and we said Stop! But can the party of Trump be rehabilitated?   Do we even want it? 

Personally, I am not one who believes this nation's democracy needs two strong parties to be healthy, not if one of those is this Republican party.  Another party, a better one, can arise from the shambles, with some few who have shunned the MAGA label restoring values to the Democrats' opposition.  Until then, it should be relegated to a regional, spent force.  Yesterday was the first, important step. 

So, Now What?  

The first task is for Democrats in this current Congress to stand guard and prevent any further damage to the nation during the so-called Lame Duck Congress for the two months until the new Congress is sworn in.   There have been noises about Samuel Alito retiring;  he can go, but there cannot be another Amy Coney Barrett nomination slipped through--full out talking filibuster, if necessary.  Perhaps there could be agreement on some sort of continuing resolution so that the government does not shut down right at the start, if the Republican majority is willing. 

In the next Congress, Democrats will be challenged to make good on their promises.  The idea should be to propose popular legislation and make the Republican minority and the President go along, or take the pain from blocking or vetoing it.  Some suggestions along this line:

1) Raise the minimum wage.  Long overdue, and the current value is an embarrassment.  Don't go for a number too high, which can actually lead to inflation and give the Republicans a reason to block it.  $15/hour

2) Propose changes to campaign financing.  The way I suggest is for Congress to establish an official campaign period (2-3 months) during which special rules would apply, and only candidates and party organizations can raise and spend money.  The big PAC's can try to manipulate opinion at other times.  A future development should be to have a Political Review Committee to identify extreme ugliness and lies during the campaign period and fine campaigns.  Now that the Republicans see that even an infinite amount of spending will not buy them elections, they may not resist this reform so much. 

3)  War Powers Resolution and suspension of financing for war activities.

4) Legislation to take back control of tariffs from the Executive, totally in line with the Constitution.  Trump will veto it, but the dislike of his tariff regime and how it has been applied is so broad that Republicans in Congress will hesitate before sustaining the veto. 

5)  Propose restoration of the cuts to Medicaid--Trump will veto it.  Propose reinstatement of the cuts to SNAP (food stamp).  Maybe Trump won't veto that one. 

6) Investigate, expose the corruption, but avoid impeachment if possible.  Hegseth is probably out the door, RFKJR will be brutalized in hearings to the point that he will be ruined, and Trump is a lame, doddering duck.  We should give him a chance to go into exile, if he leaves most of his assets behind.  Otherwise, the longer-term plan is to impoverish him and his spoor.  We know that prison is not going to happen now.