Is President Hillary doomed to fail?
Dear Democrats: Please enjoy this euphoric moment when Hillary "The Savior" Clinton seems to have distanced herself from the erratic Donald Trump.
But, American politics being what they are, your euphoria will be short lived and will result in an even larger political backlash that will make a Trump presidency look like a weekend in Atlantic City.
Our forefathers were a smart bunch who tried to build-in some fail safes to make sure some lunatic could have dictatorial powers. It's one of the biggest reasons I just don't get that excited or upset over any candidate for any high office.
THE GOP MAJORITY
Hillary, who has her own image and track record to defend, will enter her administration up against solid Republican majorities in both houses and those members will come in with a pretty ugly attitude after Trump's polarizing streak through our political front yard. It's been Republican vs. Democrat, which is expected, but I can't remember a time members of either party were so mad at each other, and confused. Throw in Bernie Sanders' historic challenge, and even some rank-and-file Democrats and those they elected might have such rosy outlooks.
Add to that, she has to carry her massive baggage as well her husband's and, basically, get ready for gridlock at best. Yet there are still kickers that could make it worse for Ms. Clinton.
THE MID-TERMS
I expect the Republicans will win even more seats in the mid-term elections, making Hillary's administration and swift one-and-done that will be only memorable because of her ineffectiveness.
She will be stymied at every turn, investigated, distracted and generally frustrated because she will have to do more damage control than governing and not even members of her own party are all that thrilled with the burden of defending her, and her husband's, past missteps. She will preside over the destruction or reconstruction of Obama's signature piece of legislation, Obamacare. This wasteful war will continue, terrorism will thrive and spread, the poor will get poorer
and the rich will get richer, minorities will still claim they are being oppressed by The Man (which is strange because their Man was just president), cops will keep killing blacks and blacks will keep killing each other, and everyone will be killing cops, any attempt at gun control will, excuse the phrase, backfire, our infrastructure will continue to crumble, Social Security will creep toward extinction, welfare won't be reformed, we will be "liked" but disrespected by every other country we try to help, China will continue its industrial revolution and trade surplus, Russia will continue to grow into a growling giant.
And it could get even worse.
THE WOUNDED TRUMP
Hell hath no fury like that of a wounded egoist, especially when they are a billionaire.
I don't think The Donald will simply fade quietly into another reality TV show and after another four years of gridlock, stagnation and frustration, prepare yourselves for Trump II: He's Back and He's Mad As Hell.
Before she even takes office, she will have to brace against a brutal series of attacks from Trump who no doubt dug up every piece of dirt on Hillary going back to 1970. She will parry and dodge but it will stick on her because, hay, she's a liar and probably a criminal who leaves a sticky trail of questionable actions, or lack thereof, behind her.
DEMOCRATS MUST FACE THE INEVITABLE
Every 30 or 40 years, we have a revolution of sorts, usually bloodless, as any strong democracy needs. The political pendulum swings back and is now going forth, so to say. We had our last major revolt in the 1960s which made great and necessary strides on many fronts and especially civil rights and culture. It came at an almost unbearable cost with assassinations, riots, and political unrest.
To make it simple, for a couple of decades, when people were accused of being racist, bigoted, misogynist, xenophobic, narrow-minded, homophobic, etc, they were embarrassed. After quotas and the massive expansion and daily interference from government, and being blamed for everyone else's failures for the last half century, hard-working, non-prejudice Americans have finally had enough, and since no mainstream politician would dare take up that torch on a national level, they supported the only candidate they really thought could change things.
Even if he loses in November, this revolution will continue. I am very sure how this ends though I am not sure how we get there. I hope it's through legislation and cultural reform, but we will get there.
So, enjoy our first woman president. It will be a huge whirlwind of ecstasy for two months, or so.
One other point, part of being the Vlivertarian, we've had this Republican majorities for some time now and yet all the issues they claim to defend have not been solved and addressed only rhetorically, leaving this stench of failure wafting from the right, as well.
So, dig in, because it's going to get ugly for all of us and we deserve it.
As always, Vliv and let Vliv and Vliv long and prosper.
