Red Wave Nothing More than A Trickle

Red Wave Nothing More than A Trickle

– By Ed Kociela –

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said that last Tuesday would be not only a red wave win for Republicans but promised a “red tsunami.”

The reality was more like a red trickle that was, for the most part, a win-win-win result for Democrats.

First of all, the GOP flipped far fewer seats in the House of Representatives than expected or statistically historically. Yes, at this point, it looks like Republicans will hold an advantage in the House. A slim advantage, however, that is far from the mandate they predicted. Can they obstruct Democratic legislation and agenda? By the numbers, yes, but it is more likely that they will be cowed by the results of their unsatisfactory midterm results and be a bit more cautious about how they proceed the next couple of years instead of applying the knee-jerk ideology that rode on the coattails of two-time popular vote loser Donald Trump. Those votes, whether in flyover country or the big city, matter, as Republicans learned last week.

Secondly, Democrats will control the Senate, which was supposedly going to drown in the predicted red wave. It didn’t happen, and I think, at least I hope, they learned a lesson about party unity regarding such important issues as selecting U.S. Supreme Court justices in what is supposed to be a politically dispassionate manner. As we have seen, those selections are now soaked in politics, and we suffer a dangerous lack of balance on the bench.

Finally, despite whatever the former president Donald Trump announces tonight in a planned speech from his exile in Florida, we may have seen the last of the MAGA hats, put a lid on the arrogance of a misinformed radical wing of the Republican Party, and strangled the hearts and minds of election deniers who poisoned a backward segment of voters who swelled to a radicalized cabal that was convinced it could overturn the will of the American voters and overthrow the Constitution with a terrorist attack on the Capitol.

Although it isn’t always in play, common sense tells us that the future of Donald Trump is a non-relenting series of revolving courtroom doors and chasing errant shots through the rough on the golf course.

As one who would, as they say, caucus with the Democrats, I would have been happier if they would have maintained control of the House. It is always best to hold a statistical advantage. But the government is supposed to represent all of us. Quite frankly, it is supposedly designed to keep both sides honest, something that has failed miserably since Ronald Reagan weaponized the word “liberal” all those years ago. So, in essence, we need conservatives as desperately as we need liberals. And quite honestly, I think closer margins of the majority do more for considering what is best for the United States than blanket mandates that sometimes can push through legislation and influence that is unwarranted. It is only fair and one of those checks and balances things that keep us on our toes and can provoke real discussion and debate.

I must admit that I was surprised by the outcome. I figured it would be a fairly significant flip in the House and slight advantage in the Senate, which would have resulted in a miserable two years for Democrats. As of the moment when I am constructing this there is still talk about the Democrats hanging on to win the House. I am not going to hold my breath on that one. And, there is also huge interest in the Georgia Senate race where a runoff will determine the fate of MAGA standard bearer Herschel Walker. The result of that race will hold no bearing on the Senate balance at this point, but would be further evidence of the demise of the MAGA culture.

Nonetheless, the finger-pointing is well underway.

I mean when a guy like Karl Rove, perhaps the reddest of traditional red party members, nukes the former president as he did Trump, saying he is responsible for a much poorer showing in the midterm than expected, something has, for sure, gone awry. Add to that the big pull-put as Rupert Murdoch’s media team turned on Trump as did many in the former president’s inner circle who urged him to wait until after Walker’s runoff to announce his candidacy to avoid negative voter backlash.

And, now we hear how the money guys of the GOP are said to be having behind-the-scenes meetings to place their bets on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2024 instead of another bid for the White House by Trump. These guys didn’t make their fortunes by backing longshots.

There has been a bit of talk about how the midterm results reflected a bid to preserve democracy, but I disagree. Americans are not that beneficent. Indeed, I think the most important thing on their collective mind as they punched their ballots was the cost of groceries, gasoline, health care – the economy. Even Rove, in his run-up comments about the election, said as much, echoing the mantra of the Bill Clinton campaign that “It’s the economy, stupid!” It is always the economy stupid and 2022 was no exception regardless of who is to blame and, believe me, there is plenty of blame to pass around.

I am sure that voters were concerned about the imbalance of the Supreme Court, that they were angry about the overturning of Roe v. Wade, that they have legitimate issues with President Joe Biden and his administration. But, damn it, in the end we are not so magnanimous as to collectively go to the heart of it all and do what is right for America. We have not grown to that point, have become too selfish, too focused on our own pocketbooks.

Cynical?

Perhaps, but, prove me wrong.

Meanwhile, the prospect of the launch of a two-year campaign for Team Trump tonight leaves me with a queasy stomach.

Please, pass the Pepto.

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