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TRUMPED: One-party rule ends in US as Democrats recapture House

Nov 8, 2018, 02:15 IST

Chidanand Rajghatta | TNN |

Source : TOI



HIGHLIGHTS



Effectively, the Democrats won the popular vote from the more populous coastal, urban, liberal, progressive, and economically vibrant areas of America



While President Trump and his party prevailed in the vast geographic hinterland that is less- populated, less-educated and predominantly rural, conservative, white, and economically poor

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WASHINGTON: A Democratic “Blue Wave” ran into a Republican “Red Wall” in Middle America allowing President Trump’s party to expand its slim majority in the Senate, even as the Democratic Party recaptured the House of Representatives after eight years in the opposition benches.

Democrats won … seats in elections to the 435-strong House of Representatives, whose members are proportional to the population of states, reflecting the will and sentiment of the people in numerical terms. The Republican Party extended its 51- 49 majority to 54-46 in the Senate, which elects two lawmakers per state (big or small) ensuring geographic and cartographic representation.

Effectively, the Democrats won the popular vote from the more populous coastal, urban, liberal, progressive, and economically vibrant areas of America, while President Trump and his party prevailed in the vast geographic hinterland that is less-populated, less-educated and predominantly rural, conservative, white, and economically poor.

"Democrats have the people; Republicans have the real estate," one pundit said of the results.

Both sides presented the results as a victory, although Democrats had greater bragging rights considering they ended the one-party Republican stranglehold in Washington by recapturing the House. But political analysts said the results fell short of the sweeping repudiation of President Trump wished for by Democrats, who secretly hoped for a tsunami that never materialized.
Nevertheless, Democrats also won seven governorships, including states such as Wisconsin and Kansas that President Trump had won in 2016, and came close to breaching the Republican fortress in Texas, where incumbent Senator Ted Cruz barely held on to his seat, while narrowly losing gubernatorial races in Georgia and Florida.

Republicans mocked the idea that there was a Democratic “Blue Wave,” saying there was not even a ripple, with President Trump himself characterizing the results as a “tremendous success” for his party and tweeting, “to any of the pundits or talking heads that do not give us proper credit for this great Midterm Election, just remember two words - FAKE NEWS!” “Those that worked with me in this incredible Midterm Election, embracing certain policies and principles, did very well. Those that did not, say goodbye! Yesterday was such a very Big Win, and all under the pressure of a Nasty and Hostile Media!” he tweeted ahead of a scheduled White House press conference at the time of writing.
A split Congress will empower both parties in different ways. A Democratic-led House can launch investigations into President Trump’s alleged infractions, and even issue subpoenas and initiate impeachment proceedings. With an expanded Republican Senate majority, President Trump can confirm judges, cabinet members, and senior administration officials more easily, pushing forward with his agenda.

In fact, even before the votes were fully counted, the two sides began sparring over the future course, although the Democratic Party itself is divided over whether to pursue a more aggressive line on Trump, including launching more aggressive investigations and initiating impeachment proceedings.

The more left-liberal wing of the party wants to go down this route, but the establishment wing led by putative speaker Nancy Pelosi (who is herself not backed by the entire party) is more circumspect, believing it will be politically counter productive and allow Trump to further rouse his base in 2020.

Nevertheless, Trump was quick to issue a warning against any aggressive Democratic intent, warning, “If the Democrats think they are going to waste Taxpayer Money investigating us at the House level, then we will likewise be forced to consider investigating them for all of the leaks of Classified Information, and much else, at the Senate level. Two can play that game!”

Trump also held out an olive branch to Pelosi, 78, a former Speaker who is a front runner for the job, but who is opposed by more than 50 members of her own party who want a fresh face and younger blood to lead them. The House Speaker is third in line to Presidency in the US political hierarchy and considered one of the most powerful offices. There could be a political gridlock in the capital if the White House and the Speaker’s office does not engage constructively.

Perhaps with this in mind, Trump tweeted: "In all fairness, Nancy Pelosi deserves to be chosen Speaker of the House by the Democrats. If they give her a hard time, perhaps we will add some Republican votes. She has earned this great honour!