As America votes today in the Midterm Elections of 2014, polls indicate that the Republican Party will win control of the US Senate and will gain seats in the House.
As far as Governorships are concerned, the indications are that the Democrats are likely to gain a few seats, and defeat some Tea Party leaders.
To a great extent, this election is more negative–that is, throw out the rascals—as there is great disillusionment with government and with politicians.
Not that this is something new, as many Americans are ignorant about politics, and just think change for its own sake is good, which is often NOT the case!
The reality is that midterm elections generally favor the opposing party to whoever is President. But with the strange situation of a split Congress, rare in American history, it becomes much more complicated.
If the Democrats do, indeed, lose the Senate, which this blogger does not believe will happen, it will be seen as a defeat, which it would be, but it is a forerunner of a certain regaining of the Senate majority two years hence, as two thirds of the seats up in 2016 are Republicans, many of them winners in the major GOP gain in the midterm election of the first Obama term.
That fact, of two thirds of the 2016 seats being Republican, and the strong likelihood, that a Democrat will be heavily favored in the Electoral College in 2016 and beyond, as things stand right now, we can expect a massive gain of seats by Democrats then, hitting the high 50s, if not the magical 60 to overcome all filibusters.
The Republicans might win the majority tonight, but they will then have the onus of producing a record of accomplishment over the next two years to give them a chance to keep control of the Senate in 2016.
Based on their negativism and obstructionism for the past six years, that scenario is highly unlikely.
Instead, one can expect the Tea Party whackos on the right, led by Ted Cruz in the Senate, to do everything to prevent any progress, any action, any accomplishments, that they will be able to use in 2016 for Senate races and to support the GOP candidate for President.
Expect instead blockage of Presidential appointments to the cabinet and the courts; loads of phony investigations that will get attention, but accomplish nothing, except to demonstrate that the GOP are a group of showboats with no substance; and probably a move to impeach and put President Obama on trial, to besmirch his record, which will cause further stalemate and bitterness, and prevent any kind of positive action on so many signature issues.
And the GOP, continuing its racism, nativism, misogyny, and homophobia, will therefore self destruct and put themselves into the grave of history, instead of being a party that offers a bright future to more than just the elite one or two percent of whites who vote their interests, while middle and lower class whites vote against their interests because they are drawn to the disgraceful appeals mentioned above, even while many claim to be “religious”, but promote discrimination against minorities, immigrants, women, and gays and lesbians!
Wow! What a horrible night!
Absolutely agree! This completely blindsided me. I was ready for a rough cycle but I thought it would be understandable given the mid-term electorate and the Senate map. What actually transpired was the most devastating election I’ve seen. I’m still having trouble comprehending what happened and why it happened.
The disparity between public polling and the results is huge.
Pretty much the worst case scenario but what can you do if people under 60 don’t vote when it’s not a ‘rock star election’, and Democratic candidates don’t actually stand up for Democratic values?
How ironic! While voting for Republican candidates, voters also supported progressive policy positions on wages, paid sick leave, and other economic issues.
http://bpicampus.com/2014/11/05/morning-feature-ouch/
Thanks for that info Princess Leia. As Pete in O Brother would say “That don’t make no sense”.
Hello All,
I tjink Albert Einstein said it best.
Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.
Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Hello Princess Leia,
I think you bring up a good point. Harry Truman said, “Given the choice of voting for a Republican, or a Democrat sounding like a Republican….they will vote for the Republican everytime.”