America spoke last week, and even though Republicans lacked a cohesive message, Americans sent one of their own: Stop. Moreover, the GOP didn’t necessarily “Seize the House,” but rather, happened upon it due to liberalism’s failure. Due to the enthusiasm of the Tea Party, Nancy Pelosi was foreclosed upon, and the GOP was given a two-year lease on the House. Why? America had a tacit sense their rights were being violated by the volumes of legislation comprising the Pelosi-Reid-Obama agenda.
Americans spoke with their vote, not so much voting Yes for the “Party of No,” but No to the “Party of Yes.” The Party of No could also called the Daddy Party: Traditionally, Mother says, “Ask your Father.” Father says, “No.” Succinctly, this is the message that Americans embraced, purposefully dividing the federal government. Of note, this is the first time our bicameral Congress has been split on party lines in 80 years.
But divided government means gridlock! Again, I say, good. Embrace the value of gridlock. It is precisely what our Founders intended; passing federal legislation was not supposed to be easy. Certain conservative circles have this notion that Republicans need to develop some bulk of policy to push through the House of Representatives; this is untrue. Again, I say, untrue.
The most prevalent policy notion is the repeal of Obamacare. I ask: What is the endgame in repealing Obamacare? Sure, vote for repeal in the House, send it to the Senate, then what? Even if it made it to the President’s desk, do you think he would repeal his own Health Care Bill? While it may be necessary to demonstrate “change,” Republicans should not waste a lot of time on this. Americans get cynical when they sense political theater trumps their sentiments. Stakes are high for the GOP; if they fail, Americans will gladly vote them back into obscurity come 2012.
Looking Ahead
So, what should the GOP do with their newfound power? After initial posturing (by both parties), the GOP’s newfound leadership position will require negotiation behind closed doors, with some of the biggest creeps on Capitol Hill. Now, though, conservatives have clout and sway. This is already apparent with Obama’s willingness to compromise with Republicans on the issue of extending the Bush tax cuts for all Americans. Through all of this, though, the Daddy Party will have to stick to their principles and resist the temptations of Washington.
The GOP must hold resolute to the idea that the American economy depends not upon legislation and corporate posturing, but upon the spontaneous order that accompanies the power of the purchase. Establishmentarians believe their “Pro-Growth” policies lead the economy, when in fact, the private sector feeds the public sector, not the other way around. It’s our job to keep reminding the GOP of this, lest they forget: “Organized chaos” in the free market produces a deliberative order. This requires a static public sector with a clearly defined tax code and regulatory structure.
In recent years, in attempts to stabilize the economy, our government has failed to stabilize itself. Domestically, uncertainty is rampant due to the unknown future of taxation, causing individuals to sit on $8 trillion, and banks $2 trillion. Abroad, uncertainty is rampant due the Federal Reserve’s “Quantitative Easing,” causing concerns over our falling dollar. If Boehner holds true to the personal pledge he made in the Wall Street Journal last week, some amount of trust will be restored to Washington. If he doesn’t, and if Republicans don’t become a Daddy Party, look for a viable third-party candidate in 2012.
Calculations
Finally, I made some misjudgments in my last post congratulating the President on the Republican victory. I did not foresee Senators Harry Reid, Patty Murray, or Michael Bennet retaining their Senate seats in Nevada, Washington, or Colorado, respectively. Moreover, it looks like Nancy Pelosi will not be retiring from the House. In fact, and amazingly, she may attempt to become the Minority Leader. So, with Reid retaining his status as Senate Majority Leader, and Pelosi potentially sticking around, the 2010 Election wasn’t as good as it could be for the Obama Administration: Sorry.
Reid’s victory has everybody wondering, “How did he do it?” I would guess the White House is wondering the same thing. Their apparent scapegoats, Pelosi and Reid, just won’t go away. All in all, I believe a 2012 re-election will be more difficult for the President than I thought at the beginning of last week. This leaves everyone asking whether or not Obama will triangulate. I don’t believe he will, based on his own tone. He doesn’t realize why Americans voted his colleagues into obsolescence; he believes he mis-marketed his policies.
This ignorance, whether legitimate or feigned, is toxic to Obama’s Presidency. By refusing to recognize a rebuke of his policies, the so-called “Agent of Change” is unwilling to change course. After 2010, House Democrats are concentrated even more to the Left, albeit in smaller numbers. These are the true believers, and the enablers of statism. Obama is certainly the leader of these believers, the losing Left. To recover, Obama must choose to represent America, and not just the Left. This will require a Cabinet shake-up; we’ll have to wait and see which path the President will ultimately take.
Who will the Republicans nominate to challenge Obama in 2012? A tea-partier? An establishmentarian? Frankly, I don’t trust anyone “running” for President in 2012; this is counter to the decentralized libertarian sentiment that swept more seated House members out of office since Herbert Hoover. Personally, I like Senator Tom Coburn, a medical doctor that had to be asked to serve a second term in the Senate, and has vowed not to serve another. Dr. Coburn has all of the competence and none of the ambition to be President; now, that’s my idea of a wonderful candidate.
