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The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same [1]

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Date: 2022-11-11

“I don’t want to see the Republican Party ride to political victory on the four horsemen of calumny — fear, ignorance, bigotry, and smear. I doubt if the Republican Party could -- simply because I don’t believe the American people will uphold any political party that puts political exploitation above national interest. Surely, we Republicans aren’t that desperate for victory.” – Republican Senator Margaret Chase Smith.

Sen. Margaret Chase Smith said the above words in 1950, in a rebuke of the anti-Communist inquisition-like campaign of Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy.

It sounds like she could be talking about her party today.

Democrats are very happy about the results of Tuesday’s midterm elections because the red wave so many people predicted would happen didn’t occur. Still, they shouldn’t be celebrating too much because, if you see the bottom line as the evaluator of your situation, Republicans have a good chance to take the House and (as of this writing) are still alive in the Senate.

I don’t mean to throw cold water on the Democrats’ parade, but that scenario still leaves our democracy in danger from a political party that, contrary to Smith’s proclamation, is “that desperate for victory.”

If the GOP controls the House, we’re looking at pretty much the end of President Joe Biden’s agenda. And we’ll have a real shitshow on our hands as the Republicans – probably led by their most insane members – push two years of constant investigations, impeachments, and whatever else they can think of to smear Democrats.

Yes, the main goal of Republicans will be to smear Democrats in advance of the 2024 election.

“I don’t want to see the Republican Party ride to political victory on the four horsemen of calumny -- fear, ignorance, bigotry, and smear.”

As far as the GOP’s pro-rich, anti-poor-and-middle-class, anti-environment, anti-democracy agenda, they’ll do as much as they can but, fortunately, we have a Democratic president who can veto a lot of their madness and, hopefully, a Democratic Senate that will block much of it from even reaching Biden’s desk.

Two years from now, that will leave the Republicans with as much attack material as they can muster – whether it’s true or not makes no difference to them –to use against Democrats running for office, along with no real legislative accomplishments.

Personally, I think they’re going to have a hard time making that work. I base that on the recent election where more voters than expected saw through their mountain of disingenuous lies.

“I don’t believe the American people will uphold any political party that puts political exploitation above national interest.”

I’m more worried about what Republicans will do to our election structure that will allow them to suppress votes and possibly reverse results. This danger is growing on the state level. Democrats will have to be watchful and fight like hell against them.

Still, a Republican-controlled House will do nothing legislatively to prevent this cheating. It will even encourage it. That’s the biggest threat they present.

Of course, things become exponentially worse if Republicans get control of the Senate. In this case, Biden’s candidates for judgeships and positions in the administration will be slowed or maybe even stopped altogether. Plus, investigations intended to smear Democrats will be commonplace.

The hope is that enough voters will see through the GOP lies, its unserious approach to governing, its corruption, and its agenda to vote for Democrats in 2024. Meanwhile, Democrats are going to have to do more than just sit back and hope that Republicans implode.

Democrats are going to have to keep pushing their plan for the future, even if it’s legislatively blocked, in order to contrast their party with the GOP clown car that’s set to keep rolling. They’re going to have to hone their message so voters understand the difference between the two parties and the continued danger to democracy, personal rights, and the rule of law that the opposition party has become. They’re going to have to stay together and not splinter into progressives vs moderates stupidity.

And they’re going to have to make some hard political decisions, such as where to spend more or less. Here’s hoping they finally admit Florida is a red state and not ignore good candidates who, absent a financial push, are going to have a hard time winning.

So, buckle up. The threat remains. The work must continue. We’ve just completed the most important election of our lifetimes.

That means we’re just two years away from – you guessed it – the most important election of our lifetimes.

***

Thank you for reading my post. You can see more at my writings on my blog: Musings of a Nobody.

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/11/11/2135443/-The-More-Things-Change-the-More-They-Stay-the-Same

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