Now what? The people—well, a helluva lot of them—have spoken. The mid-terms have been understandably seen as a rebuke to an unhinged, amoral Administration that has diminished America and further fractured the world. Anything less than a rebuke would have been seen as an existential concession.
What are the realistic takeaways from an election that was about so much more than problematic partisan politics? Making America Grateful Again will take the principled cooperation and unfeigned responsibility of Republicans and Democrats as well as the enlightened self-interest and duty of an engaged electorate. Call it America’s post-Civil War, “Come to Jesus” moment.
For the Dems: Max out on committee hearings and subpoena powers without spiking the football with performance theatrics. Accountability and affordability are your themes—not ironic retribution. Maintain momentum and turn Florida into something other than a purplenami. Don’t push to impeach unless conviction is assured—as it would have been with Richard Nixon in 1974. Otherwise, a counterproductive rally of “victimized,” “martyred,” faux patriots results. January 6 doesn’t need a sequel.
For GOPsters: You can be for secure borders without imposing ICE terrorists. You can be for meritocracy without anti-“woke” discrimination. You can be against unnecessary wars without starting a costly, globally-impacting one sans an exit strategy. You can be against cost-of-living hikes without enabling rising prices. You can be for the rule of law, the separation of powers, the U.S. Constitution and a grift-free capital without equivocation. Yes You Can.
In 1974, Republican Sen. Barry Goldwater, Republican Senate Leader Hugh Scott and House Republican Leader John Jacob Rhodes assessed enough authentic America First backbone in fellow GOP legislators to confront Nixon with the reality of impeachment by the House and conviction by the Senate. They were further encouraged by the agreement of cabinet heavyweights such as Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Chief of Staff Al Haig. Nixon resigned the next day.
No, Donald Trump is no Richard Nixon, who was at least qualified for the presidency. No more than Marco Rubio is another Henry Kissinger or Stephen Miller is the legatee of Al Haig. The message, however, is immutable. A party can be humbled and still retain honor if it regroups and follows its conscience—not its worst, self-serving instincts.
Finally, there is, as always, onus on the electorate. It must do its homework. Being uninformed or misinformed is democratic negligence and self-sabotage. The challenges in the internet age are formidable. We have to be up to it. Everything rides on it.