Here in Washington, DC, there is a buzz that republicans clobbered democrats last night. The beltway talking heads are using that " tide" reference again--just as they did in 2010.
What the hell is a "republican tide" anyway? I would think that would best refer to the congealed oil blobs washing ashore in the Gulf region after the BP Deepwater Horizon spill--as in "That republican tide is killing a lot of marine life". President Obama has not quite taken the defeated, demoralized "shellacking" posture as he did in 2010, and republicans are now in the very awkward position of having to govern. Republicans don't always govern, but when they do, they do so miserably.
Make no mistake. Cons will think last night was a mandate, just as they did in 2010. And, just as they did in 2010, they will be intoxicated with their victories. They will be even more bat shit crazy than normal. Impeachment talk will resurface. They will throw temper tantrums and threaten (if not actually doing so) to shut down the government. They will continue to alienate Latinos, African-Americans, women, gays, students, the elderly, etc.
Republicans can't help but to f*ck things up. It starts with Fox News and Rush Limbaugh. They set the agenda, and then the angry Cletus-Jethro Teanderthal base belches and farts all the talking points back to anyone in ear shot. The Ted Cruzes and Michelle Bachmanns then start the momentum of the train, which then builds speed until it runs off the rails. This is when they talk about birth certificates, impeachment, government shut downs, and not raising the debt ceiling.
Again, they will take their wins as an indication of a mandate for their extreme agenda-- instead of the 6 year shift that even happened to Ronald Reagan in 1986. There is also voter frustration toward Obama and voter apathy in that mix as well. But, there is no mandate from the majority of Americans.
Here is what will likely happen over the 1.5-2 years:
1. Hostage taking to raise the debt ceiling.
2. Impeachment talks, hearings, whatever.
3. Threats of shutting down the government--or actually doing so.
4. Investigation after pointless investigation (most likely led by Ted Cruz). Fast and furious, Benghazi, Ebola/CDC, you name it.
5. Legislation for tax cuts for the wealthy.
6. De-funding ACA.
7. Pushing another war.
Wash. Rinse. Repeat. Recycle.
That's all these dinosaurs have: the same tired, worn, and failed "policy" ideas of the last decade. Cons will only try to be viable once it gets closer to the presidential election.
The question is, will democrats roll over and try to negotiate with hostage takers? Will Obama cave? Republicans wanted to govern, now they have to. Let them. Democrats were not getting any legislation through before. What is different now?
Since January 2009, cons have repeatedly taken the big, smelly shit and blamed the stink on others. Democrats better just let the stink stick to republicans over the next two years instead of trying to spray legislative Glade aerosol to freshen things up.
Veto power. Filibusters. Use them.