US goes Blue

With Democrats now in control of the US Senate, it is quite likely that a policy perspective will be in order

The American electorate went the Blue way. The Republicans could not make it big at the crucial mid-term polls. The fact that Democrats managed to retain their psychological edge in the Senate, despite being evenly poised, and are in a comfortable position in the House of Representatives too is a cheering aspect for the White House and President Joseph Biden. One of the prime reasons as to why the Reds under Donald Trump could not grab the upper cameral is the misnomer policies of the white supremacist ex-president, and his agenda of waywardness. The voters took a long shot to ensure that Biden didn’t end up as a footnote halfway down his presidency.

With Democrats now in control of the US Senate for the next two years, it is quite likely that a policy perspective will be in order. Vice President Kamala Harris’ tie-breaking vote in favour of her party will be a blessing in disguise. With the Blues set to grab the 51^st seat if Senator Raphael Warnock clinches Georgia, it will be just consolidating its base. Control of the Senate will embolden the Democrats to go ahead smoothly with high-profile nominations in judiciary, and executive appointments, and primarily do away with the stunt of locking down the government machinery by holding back the purse of the nation, as was the case during Barack Obama stints. At a time when the Pentagon and the State Department are hands down involved over the war in Ukraine, this legislative edge will be a turning point. Likewise, with many constituencies nearing a photo-finish for the House Representatives, Republicans are seen struggling and this rout has inevitably dampened Trump’s hope of returning to the White House in 2024.

The mid-term verdict has spilled the beans in political context. The canvassing for both the parties was a prelude to the presidential poll as they endeavoured to further the envelope in socio-economic milieu. The hardened stance of many Republican candidates as they still refuse to accept the 2020 win of Biden landed them in Waterloo phenomenon. That psyche prevented them from capturing both chambers of the US Congress and, moreover, saw the crushing defeat of a dozen Trump stalwarts. Most of them, ironically, were staunch advocates of an assault on Capitol Hill. Trump anti-liberal agenda was shown the door and this is where Biden can find a breeding ground to consolidate his unsung leadership by cajoling Americans towards a common denominator of oneness, alive to the leadership mantle on the foreign front.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 16^th, 2022.

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