Democrats will control the House of Representatives – Now What?

It was definitely a Blue wave in Orange County California.

That county immediately south of Los Angeles was the bastion of the Republican Party. It was a mostly middle class (Anaheim and Santa Ana) to the ultra rich (Laguna Beach and Newport Beach). Then came the changing demographics of Latinos, African Americans, and Asians who had managed to save enough money to buy a home in those comfortable suburban communities of Orange County.

So while there are some members of the minority groups that have supported GOP philosophy, a growing number rejected the obvious bias against non-whites that is a hallmark of the Republican Party. Donald Trump is the personification of White supremacy. The image that Trump exemplified was rejected by a majority of voters in that county.

Most likely that image of White supremacy enabled the Democratic Party to win control of the House of Representatives.

Still, the well established Republican Party majority states, that are in the less populated middle America and southern regions, rejected some of their Democratic senators. Trump’s campaign of fear of minorities and immigrants worked well in those states. Everyone should read Bob Woodward’s book titled Fear to understand how successful Trump has been.

The question now is what will the Democrats do with their new found power? The many caucuses within the GOP prevented the passage of needed legislation when they held control of the House. If those kinds of groups do not compromise in the Democratic Party we will continue to see a lack of legislation in the coming two years.

Not a Member of a Political Party

I am not registered as a member of any political party. Given my interest in politics it may seem an unlikely scenario. Let me tell you my reasoning.

The Republican Party historically in the 20th century was the party supporting business. They fought for lower taxes and less regulation. Who can be opposed to those objectives? Then the conservative religious groups evolved inside the G.O.P. Instead of being the business party they became the party of Evangelical Christians and other orthodox religious groups that put their religious beliefs ahead of business and the rights of non-believers. Today, thanks to Donald Trump, the G.O.P. has become the party concerned with helping the working classes of the country and the party of the extreme right wing (alt-right/neo-Nazi) hate groups. This is not a pretty picture.

Sadly the Democratic Party is no longer the party of the working class and middle class America. Extreme left wing socialists have become the driving force within the party. Senator Bernie Sanders has become a leader of this socialist perspective. America does have some socialist services but not to the level that the left wing aspires to bring to America. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and welfare for the needy are all socialist programs but I do not support government ownership of businesses that should be operated privately (car manufacturing companies, aircraft manufacturers, etc.).

Third parties have had an inconsequential impact on American politics.

I am left with selecting candidates that have said or done something that catches my attention. I voted for both Democrats and Republicans in November. Some races were left unmarked for any candidate.

Donald Trump appears to be a thin skinned man who takes every slight as a major insult to him. How will he conduct himself as president? His behavior as a candidate has not changed since he won the election. The only thing that might stop him from starting a nuclear war might be the decisions of a wiser military.

How did America get itself into such a predicament?

Ethical Behavior

This is all about politicians. The issue revolves around the words “Everything I have done is within the law.” Former President Bill Clinton asked for a definition of the word “is.” Going back in time former president Richard Nixon said that by definition everything he did was within the law simply because he was president. Clinton was impeached but not found guilty. Nixon didn’t wait to be impeached and simply resigned.

Most recently the questions surrounding Benghazi have continued to haunt Hillary Rodham Clinton. Her refusal to explain what she knew and when she knew it pertaining to the attack on the U.S. consular facility there, continues to be a source of doubt that will only grow more pronounced if she announces her candidacy for president. Why can’t she simply explain her knowledge of the facts? Mrs. Clinton’s use of a private e-mail server only adds to questions about her honesty.

Robert “Bob” Menendez is the senior United States Senator from New Jersey. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The Justice Department is preparing to bring criminal corruption charges against the senator. Menendez told reporters last Friday night he has “always conducted myself appropriately and in accordance with the law.”

Events in Ferguson, Missouri have resulted in a federal report alleging racially biased policing but the mayor, James Knowles III said that the resignations or firings of six city officials implicated in the scandal have given the troubled city the clean slate it needs to begin the reforming itself. Some in the community have demanded a recall election. He refuses to resign.

Relatives on campaign payrolls? Now, a bill recently introduced by US Representative Jackie Speier, a California Democrat, would prohibit members of Congress from hiring family members through their campaign committees or political action committees and set strict disclosure requirements, as well as other reforms. My guess is that even if passed into law our representatives will find a way to evade such a regulation and claim they are “within the law.”

Will this evasion of the law and a lack of ethical behavior end any time soon? Anyone reading this will not see a change in their life time.

Democrat and Republican Race to the Bottom

It continues to astonish me that the leading candidates for president, according to recent polls, are a group of people who were rejected for the job either four or eight years ago. Finally one commentator has had the courage to state the obvious. Eugene Robinson wrote in the Washington Post that the race is devolving into a contest of re-treads. “In a nation of more than 310 million souls, we can do better.”

Robinson is so right. Mitt Romney is pitching for donors as Hillary Clinton seems to have the Democratic Party nomination secured without one primary election.

It is a contest of shopworn seniors who have more to say about what they have done than what they are likely to do. Of course they will try to tell us that they still have lots of new ideas. Romney will now be concerned about the 47% and Clinton will have fresh ideas to counter terrorism and enabling middle eastern country partners and their people. Are we to believe that Hillary Clinton, one of the leading advocates for toppling Muammar Gaddafi, has a new understanding of Middle East issues and really has any new ideas?

The problem is the political parties. The power structure in both parties defines the likely nominees. It seems our choices will be either Jeb Bush or Mitt Romney for the Republicans and Hillary Clinton for the Democrats. We will hold our noses as we go to the polls; knowing we could do better.