Wednesday, October 19, 2016

I hate to rain...

...on anyone's parade (especially when it includes me), but consider the following scenario: Hillary wins the presidency next month, the Democrats take back the Senate and cut into the Republican majority in the House. Good times, right?

And, then . . . the Republicans retake the Senate in 2018 (which many experts deem likely) while increasing their majority in the House. And, then, sometime in the next four years the economy slips into recession (we're about due, aren't we?) and Donald Trump the Republican candidate in 2020 wins the White House. The GOP would be in control of both the executive and legislative branches of government. Yikes!

So, instead of being giddy (as is tempting right now), Democrats could be downright glum four years from now.

If Dems should happen to take back the House (a huge long shot) in addition to the Senate next month, they should quickly do away with the filibuster and enact as much of their agenda as possible. Like Obama's first two years, it could be their one chance to make a difference legislatively.

(Oh, and while I'm at it, how about Justices Anthony Kennedy, 80, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 83, and Stephen Breyer, 78, consider retiring to Del Boca Vista? That way Hillary could really shape the Supreme Court, too.)

P. S. And this all assumes Mrs. Clinton can avoid a primary challenge from the left, a la Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren.

1 comment:

Ed Crotty said...

Moving forward with the agenda is the best way to differentiate as well - and a good way to keep momentum for the midterms.