The headline this morning is that we have elected Donald Trump to be our president. The more pertinent lesson is that Democrats again earned a place of disfavor, standing in the corner face to the wall. Pre-vote, much talk centered around the reassessment that would be necessary for Republicans after the election. Now we should know that it is Democrats who must reassess if they are to retake prominence in American governance.
For too many years, Democrats, liberals and a majority of pundits have ignored the broader truth that Republicans largely control America. But for 2006 and 2008, Republicans have controlled the legislature. They have controlled 60%+ of governorships and state legislative bodies. The Republican governmental dominance has been disguised by the existence of a Democrat in the White House. That dominance can be ignored no longer. America, writ large, elects Republicans.
For more than a decade Republicans have cleaned the clocks of politically correct, regulation happy Democrats and liberals. Yesterday did not change the direction of the electorate, it put an exclamation point on it. We should not make the mistake of thinking that this was just the election of a showman to the presidency. This was the Senate, the House, Governors’ mansions and legislatures across America…again.
Contributor, aka tidbits. Retired attorney in complex litigation, death penalty defense and constitutional law. Former Nat’l Board Chair: Alzheimer’s Association. Served on multiple political campaigns, including two for U.S. Senator Mark O. Hatfield (R-OR). Contributing author to three legal books and multiple legal publications.