With the 2018 midterm election many new faces have been brought into the national spot light. Both of the Republican and Democrats side alike, with now more women and minority in the U.S. Congress than ever before. It is signs of a changing America one of acceptance and diversity among color, creed, and sex. A lot of younger faces as well are really shaking up the status quo in D.C. bringing in new, fresh, and bold ideas. The 2018 midterms went as most do during a new Presidents first term in office. Since 1946, the average midterm loss for the president’s party is 25 seats, and this one was not different with the Republican losing 25 seats with 27 in the House and a Republican gain of two seats in the Senate. The midterms were a mixture of victories for both parties with the GOP able to gain seats in the Senate which is very important to President Trump with the cabinet and judicial nominees having to get Senate approval. Along with the GOP pulling off governor wins the states of Florida with Rick Scott and Ohio with Mike DeWine; these wins are very important to the Republicans because they will have power over redistricting. The states of Ohio and Florida are crucial in winning the presidency for a Republican. Then on the Democrat side pulling off regaining the majority in the House of Representatives, along with a few Governors races. Now as it stands America has a divided Government, this has happened many times our history and as it shows can show a lot of dead lock between the two chambers on Congress. The answer to a divided government is in compromise and bipartisanship which for more information see the first post on the blog below.

In this post we will be looking at some of the very important player the came out of the 2018 both new and old faces that are shaping our current legislature. We will be looking at both sides of the isle and exploring the people who are working for the American people today and might have plan for the future in 2020 and beyond. One the Democrat line up we have Nancy Pelosi, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Kyrsten Sinema, Beto O’Rourke, and Joe Manchin. Then on the Republican party line up we got Trump, Kevin McCarthy, Marsha Blackburn, Martha McSally, and Ted Cruz.

The Democratic party is a huge cross road in its history, it has now entered into a time of finding itself, trying to find their next voice and message. For many Americans at this time all they can see is the Democrats message is just anti Donald Trump, now is works for talking points in the short term but not for the long haul at all. You cannot win an election with just being anti Trump many have tried and failed at that one both Democrats and Republicans alike.  The roads Democrats need to make their decision on is their direction as a party if they should take more toward the middle or much more far left toward Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez both self-described Democratic socialist. On time will tell what direction the party will go; the decision will be made in the 2020 Democratic primary on where the party goes from here. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the youngest women every elected to congress at age 29, she won’t be a contender in the next election but she could have major poll in the primary and where the party goes with her allied Bernie Sanders who ran in 2016 and is considering another run. Then Beto O’Rourke is a young member of the house ran for Senate against Ted Cruz one-time Presidential candidates. Beto was a great fundraiser getting millions and got national attention, many saw him as a future presidential candidate for 2020 but we would loss to Ted Cruz and is now out of a Job but many still see protentional in him and will probably be back in the spot light soon. Then Joe Manchin represents the very moderate part of the Democratic party, when Donald Trump wins your state by over 42% you have to be. He votes will the Republicans on many issues which is how he was able to will reelection in 2018, but many see the moderate section of the party as a dying bread with most people seeing the party going ever farther left.  Kyrsten Sinema is the first female Senate from the state of Arizona which adds to the diversity of the new Congress and helps with the new faces and ideas to the party. Then the one that stand from this group is Nancy Pelosi who has been reelection as speaker of the house, she has been in the house since the 80’s and is part of the old guard of the Democratic Party and is still at the helm now even herself going father left to keep up the support from her own party.

Then over in the GOP many saw it was Trump being on the ballot which is how it looked too many to President Trump having MAGA rally’s all over the nation to build up support for many different candidates. This worked out well for the part in some very key races in the senate and governor races. Over in the House with the retirement of Paul Ryan and the loss of the majority, now minority leader Kevin McCarthy to lead the party through this time and find a path to regaining the majority. Then over in the Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell is leading his majority trying to push through the Trump agenda, along with the new two female Senators Marsha Blackburn, and Martha McSally who are bringing new life and energy in the Grand old Party.

This new Congress has low of issues to deal with so we shall see how these new and old faces are able to lead and work for the American people.

Ever since the loss of Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election which was seen as a guaranteed victory to many in her party, there has been a power vacuum within the Democratic party. The question must be asked who’s in charge and that is the next step and direction of the party itself. As it stands now to many there is no clean leader of face of the democratic party with Clinton out many think for good now and Obama being out of office as well. The Democratic party has now entered into a time of finding itself, trying to find their next voice and message. For many Americans at this time all they can see is the Democrats message is just anti Donald Trump, now is works for talking points in the short term but not for the long haul at all. You cannot win an election with just being anti Trump many have tried and failed at that one both Democrats and Republicans alike.

For a while the Dems where built upon the message of Obama who was able to win two terms as President but lost heavily their majors in Congress and it the majority of state legislators as well. This is just a fact of political science one a liberal leader is elected the country becomes more conservative and vise versa. Barrack Obama is very special, his voice, charisma, and message inspired millions of Americans in hope and better days to come. He was politician lighting the brought to life a huge grass roots movement almost very seen in American politics making huge speeches to thousands all of the country. No matter what you believe weather you supported him or not you have to give it to Obama a masterful politician, was able to speech with just style and character was like straight energy into the American people. The Democrats had themselves a Star and in 2008 with only being a U.S. Senator for three years was able to bring down Hillary Clinton former first lady and Senator to obtain his parties nomination. Then in the general was able to win in a landslide against an all-American hero John McCain who had been a POW in Vietnam and had been serving as a senator for two decades. Obama had become the first African American president in history, he had broken down so many barrier and inspired a nation. In his victory speech he was a humble winner and spoke of an American Dream that is no dead. “If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonder if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer”. This speech brought tears to the eyes of many that believe change was coming to America. It is up to debate if Obama’s promise of “Hope and Change” was delivered but he was the face and voice of his party leading a movement in American politics.

In 2016 Hillary Clinton ran for President again but had a hard time finding the same energy for her election that Obama had. Bernie Sanders was her main opponent in primary and had a huge grass root following but Clinton was able to prevail and take the nomination. Clinton was a problemed candidate and leader with a list of scandals as long as her credentials along with her lack of personability and known as one of the most establishment candidates in history. Non the less from polls and the media it looked like Clinton path to the White House was certain. Trump was able to be in a way like political cocaine to the American people either good or bad he got a reaction. He was able to like Obama fill stadiums and had a huge grass roots following in middle America, saying that he was the voice for the forgotten men and women of America. With her loss to Trump, Clinton was no longer the face and voice of the party she was set aside to wonder in the woods and wondered what happened. With Clinton gone the Democrat Party is left without a face to lead them, their leadership of Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer was had much criticism and is and old generation clinging on to power. With the upcoming Presidential election in 2020 the Dems will be deciding their new leader, it is going to be quite the primary with over two dozen people expected in the primary. The party will also be choosing its direction as well if it wants to start more toward the middle of go to the more radical side of the party of socialism. It is sure to be a bitter fight for the nomination but whoever wins will have their biggest challenge facing against an incumbent President of the United States who also happens to be Donald Trump. In the end it will be up the American people to side which why they want our country to go left, right or down the middle, let the majesty of our democracy go on.

 

America today is very divided on party lines, with the way things are going may average Americans and TV personalities believe bipartisanship is dead. Bipartisan by definition is the action of two opposing parties putting aside their differences and working together toward a common goal. In a different time bipartisanship was the political norm, being able to compromise and work together was something that all politicians strived for and was the standard. For a large part of American history there was not a lot of large differences between our political parties and for the most part even with divided government work together to drive the country forward. There have been times in our history were the country has been even more divided then today, such as the civil war and much civil and political unrest during the 60s and 70s. Our country has been through much harder times two world, cold war, recessions and depression we are strong and we must continue to stand tall as the greatest democracy on the face of this earth.

In the age of Trump, it is hard for many to see the Republicans and Democrats working together but there have actually been a few really good pieces of legislation that has passed with huge bipartisan support along with the Presidents during his two years in office. These have included the very recent success of the Criminal Justice Reform bill known as the First Step Act. This bill I personally found very hopeful that bipartisanship is still alive and well I also very much agree with this bill with American as a whole becoming are becoming more lenient on crime. This bill helps reduce minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenses, limits the Clinton era three strikes policy. Along with putting people in jails closer to their families, and a huge part of it is about second chances gives the inmates so much more access to rehabilitative resources and education so they can be better equipped to rejoin society. This is a very strong and important piece of legislation that will helps many Americans and their families. President Trump said in his public support of the bill “Our whole Nation benefits if former inmates are able to reenter society as productive, law-abiding citizens”. This along with several other pieces of legislation including bills fighting human trafficking along with empowering women in society and in the work place and helping vets as well. These and others are all pieces of the modern bipartisanship in the Trump era still going strong but is covered for the most part by disagreements and fighting between the two parties.

There is still much to be worked out between the Republicans and the Democrats but I believe that there is still much that they agree on enough to work together. One big thing in infrastructure this is one of Trumps big campaign promises to invest large in infrastructure and along with deregulation to help get projects off the ground much quicker. The Democrats for the most part is very much in support for investments in infrastructure which has been part of their party platform for decades. Some believe that with President Trump in office the Democrats are simple just unwilling to work with him even when they agree with him. I believe that the Democrats as the take control of the House of Reprecipitates they must compromise and work with the GOP and Trump in order to show the American people they are mature enough and have to leader to deserve to be in power. I think that if the parties are able to show they can work together on something great like building new roads and hospitals across the nation in could bring in a new time on calmness and maturity back to politics, a kinder and gentler nation.

First in order for this to happen the government shut down will have to end which is very import for America as a whole. President Trump has made his demand and has addressed the nation on the importance of better border security and humanitarian aid to the southern border. I has drawn a line in the stand on this and is standing firm that he will not sign any bill to reopen the government without the proper funding for better border security, humanitarian aid, and the wall or fencing for the southern border. The Democrats have for the most part been unwilling to negotiate as well as the republicans on this issue. Many Democrats including the newly elected House Speaker Nancy Pelosi think the wall is unnecessary and immoral. This is in contrast to statement made by many democrats a just a few years ago including Pelosi, Obama and many more support increase security and fencing. In the age of Trump, the tune of the Democrats has certainly changed against walls and fences along the southern border. I believe that the Democrats should just try to negotiate and give into some of the demands, I understand they have their views and their constituents they would give at least some funding for border security now so they can reopen the government. Then they can better plan for the future of border security and our budget as a whole without putting government works and the American people in the middle of it. Then in the end either got truly what they wanted but that is the nature of compromise and bipartisanship. It is a very important staple of our democracy and our leaders in Washington need to learn to work together for all Americans remembers the past while always looking toward the future for our nation.