House and Senate leadership, on both sides of the aisle, are facing a complete unknown with President-elect Donald Trump. How in the hell is governing going to happen? Let's start with the Republicans.
They need to start with a really basic question: who's actually going to lead? Paul Ryan clearly thinks it's his opportunity to take over. He should think again, as the Breitbart administration insists he "will not get amnesty" for his refusal to bow down to Trump during the campaign. McConnell may or may not have the problem of a handful of NeverTrumpers—Lindsey Graham, Mike Lee, Ben Sasse, Jeff Flake—depending on whether those guys get a spine and decide maybe they should try to salvage some degree of respectability for their party.
Democrats' job one is going to be exploit the hell out of those divisions and fight. And to not fucking listen to the likes of Sen. Joe Manchin.
Sen. Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat who plans to run for reelection in 2018, warned his party not too move too far to the left.
"If the instinct of the party is to fight Donald Trump, then that's the stupidest thing that could happen," Manchin told CNN on Wednesday. "I will denounce my party and chastise them if they play that game."
Manchin added: "The bottom line is you can't govern from (the left) wing of the party. And if Chuck Schumer or the national Democratic Party ever wants to be a majority, they have to go to the middle."
Sound familiar? It's 2005 again and another Joe—Lieberman—is scolding Democrats for fighting George W. Bush's and his illegitimate war, warning we'll never win the red states again. Jon Tester should remember what happened in 2006 when he decided to ignore that advice and fight.
The surest way to guarantee Democrats stay home on Election Day 2018 is to roll over to the Republicans. No, fight, but fight smart. Here's an early start from Nancy Pelosi, announcing after she spoke on the phone with Trump Wednesday that she sees a place to work with Trump in his "proposal to add millions of federal dollars to build roads and bridges." Why is that smart? Because Ryan's maniacs are never going to agree to spend that money. Democrats can help drive that wedge and keep the Republicans splintered. If the wedge is between Trump and Ryan or McConnell, exploit it. Do not make anything Ryan or McConnell want to do easy. Don't help them.
And remember this—the “people” did not make this happen.
Don’t try to represent the electoral college, Democrats. Represent the people.
