U.S. Voters Build a Roadblock for Trump


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The new Red (Republican) Blue (Democratic) map.

The House of Representatives in now in the hands of the Democratic Party. This is bad news for President Donald Trump. It means no new laws can be passed without their support. It means that questions about Trump’s activities as president can now be looked into by Democratic chaired committees.

It is the end, for now, of one-party control of the government. For Democrats, that is the good news. In reality, party membership does not bind membert to vote one way or another. But it is the beginning of a new period in American politics.

Trump is the first political leader to talk directly, almost daily, to voters. He uses Twitter to tell Americans what is on his mind. No one can stop him before he speaks. It has become a way for him to be in the headlines everyday. He uses Twitter to create his own reality. America has become a country where about half the country believes him. The other half thinks he makes up just about everything.

The Democrats have big decisions to make. Should they focus on building a program to take to the voters in the next election for president in 2020? For example, working on affordable healthcare. Or maybe trying to solve the immigration system. One big job of the Congress is oversight.  Should they spend time investigating Trump. That could lead to tryiing to remove him by impeachment.

Trump already has signaled that if the Democrats go after him, he will go after them. He said it would be a “war.”

The world is watching. Many think Trump is all about “nationalism.” This includes opposition to migrants, immigrants and refugees. “America First” conveys the idea that there was such a thing as an “American.” That person was white. The idea appealed more to white men than any other group.

Trump’s bombast singled out refugees. He also is at war against America’s free press. He used the phrase “fake news” and calls the press an “enemy of the people.”

He found support in his “base.” Millions of mostly white, less educated people. Politicians all over the world found a new model. It is attacking “the other.”

The question is, is this election the start of a movement against Trump’s brand of politics?

Trump’s party, the Republicans, kept control of the U.S. Senate. That means they confirm judges, including the Supreme Court. The Senate also approves or opposes treaties with other countries. Few treaties are in play now.

In 2020, more states that lean Democratic, will elect senators. That is not good news for Republicans.

For the first time, it looks like America’s minority citizens made their presence felt in the voting booth. Millions more votes were cast for Democrats than Republicans.

All in all, it was a very good night for those who oppose President Trump.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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