You know, I keep hearing about how the GOP controls the House and the Senate… but “control” is an awfully strong verb considering their position, in my opinion, especially in the Senate.
Look, we’re not going to be able to stop all the bad shit that’s coming our way. But the absolute worst of it very well could be contained. Because as much as Mitch McConnell may think he has things well in hand, the fact of the matter is POTUS-elect has made more than enough enemies in his own party to cause massive headaches for everyone.
In particular, there are four senators that I think could be key, if unlikely, allies in some of the most important battles to come.
First, you have John McCain and Lindsay Graham. These two come as a package deal, and lookie lookie, they’re already trying to get him impeached. Kelly Ayotte would have made this a 3-pack, but since her replacement is one of the 48 Democrats (at least, but I’m not holding out much hope for Louisiana), we won’t cry about her absence too much. I think these two could absolutely be convinced (Arizona and South Carolina residents...start writing those letters now!) to keep Trump from killing Medicare, or appointing the next Robert Bork.
Senator #3, like I mentioned, would have been Kelly Ayotte had she survived reelection, but since she didn’t the honor falls to the other female GOP Senator from New England, Susan Collins. Again, Maine residents...start writing those letters now.
Which brings me to fellow number 4. Ted Cruz wouldn’t seem to be someone Democrats could ever consider an ally, but, hey, politics makes strange bedfellows. Now, Ted Cruz would never attack from the left, of course, but it does it really matter WHY? If Donald Trump tries to do anything, really anything, and he leaves Ted Cruz a sliver of room on the extreme right fringe, Cruz would love nothing more than to jump in and make life miserable for this guy. I honestly believe he’d rather do that than get any kind of legislation passed, even stuff he should, by all rights, love.
Others may also be reachable. Rand Paul, for instance, could hit him from the left or the right, depending on the issue. But those four, combined with 48 Democrats (although we’ll have to keep our eye on Manchin & Heitkamp) could very well be the key to keeping Trump’s (and the GOP’s) worst impulses in check.