I & I Editorial Board“Gridlock is the next best thing to having a constitution.” – M. Stanton Evans
Now that the election is over, it’s time to ask if all the hyperventilating for the past year was worth it. Was this “the most important election in our history,” as so many have declared?
We are entirely unconvinced. If all it does is produce gridlock in Washington, we will be happy, because the biggest threat to the country is when lawmakers are productive.
To be clear, it would have been better if the GOP had kept their majorities, and we are deeply disturbed by the choices voters made in several races. The fact that a Casper Milquetoast leftist like James Talarico or a Hamas-loving extremist like Abdul Al-Sayed could get more than 2% of the vote does not bode well for our nation’s future.
But let’s go through the reasons not to be too overly concerned about the results.
First, it’s in the interest of Democrats to hype the importance of this election because they want to claim a mandate. But the norm is for the party out of power in the White House to gain seats in congressional races.
And even big swings don’t necessarily mean much long term. In 2010, for example, Republicans gained a net of 68 seats (and reclaimed the majority in the House), gained six seats in the Senate, and took six governorships away from Democrats.
It was a stunning rebuke of Barack Obama’s first two years in office, after which Obama said he’d just use his pen and phone to get things done, and then went on to win reelection.
Second, Democrats didn’t run on an agenda this year – other than Trump hatred – so they have no mandate for the next two years.
When Republicans gained control of the House in Bill Clinton’s first term, they did so by nationalizing the election under the banner of Newt Gingrich’s Contract with America. Their outsized midterm win forced Clinton to compromise and let the GOP get things like welfare reform and a capital gains tax cut enacted.
The only thing Democrats have promised voters is that they will hold Trump “accountable.”
And if Democrats do try to get bills passed, none will make it into law unless they do the unthinkable and reach across the aisle, because President Donald Trump still holds the veto pen and has already declared that he will be the Veto President if Democrats take control of Congress.
So, the only thing we know for sure is that for the next two years, Washington, D.C., will be in a state of gridlock while Democrats unleash a torrent of investigations, impeachments, and endless claims of corruption and wrongdoing.
While that might keep the Democratic base happy, it’s likely to hurt them more than Republicans once the public realizes that revenge is not productive. And if the economy starts gaining momentum and Trump and the rest of the GOP stay focused on delivering good news about jobs and growth and income, Democrats will look even more out of touch with everyday Americans.
That’s not to say there is no risk. Democratic socialist wins today can provide tremendous momentum going into 2028. And if Democrats, God forbid, do win the White House that year, the country will be all but lost. But it’s just likely that emboldened radicals in the Democratic Party will turn off far more voters than they gain.
So, our advice is to let Democrats have their celebrations. Enjoy the gridlock for the next two years. And get busy laying the groundwork for massive victories in 2028, when the elections really matter.
— Written by the I&I Editorial Board
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