PLAY THE HAND YOU'RE DEALT!

 Weekly Opinion Editorial

LEVERAGE

by Steve Fair

 

     Democrats in Congress appear to be changing their strategy from resisting to cooperate with incoming President Donald Trump.  In 2016, Congressional Democrats were militant and united in their opposition to Trump.   That resistance doesn’t appear to be materializing for Trump’s second term.  Three observations:

     First, Democrats are soul searching.  They lost both chambers of Congress and the presidency. American voters were clear they didn’t buy into the liberal policies of Biden/Harris.  The scheme to be ‘against Trump’ as a campaign theme miserably failed at the ballot box.  Since the election, prominent Democrats have abandoned the ‘save our democracy’ rhetoric because the average voters didn’t buy the threat.  They recognize they are out of touch with the average American and are assessing their political positions. 

      Bernie Sanders supporters circulated a petition this week calling for a massive overhaul of the DNC.  The group wants to (1) ban dark money in primaries (good idea), (2) invest more money in the state Party apparatus, (3) hold consultants accountable, (4) commit to a progressive platform and small donor strategy in fundraising.  They believe the Democrat Party has abandoned their roots and need to get back to basics.  It remains to be seen if a grassroots takeover of the DNC materializes.  

     Voters dealt Democrats a two-seven offsuit hand in November.  They have few options but to play it out and hope they can wind up with a pair.

     Second, political polarization may be eroding.  It has been popular to be against anything/everything your political opponent is for.  That mindset hasn’t disappeared, but some politicos got the message voters sent in November.       Hassan Martini, a Democrat political consultant, says it is important people aren’t categorized as left or right.  “The Democratic Party should look into each person’s comments and actions on an individual basis,” Martini says.  Martini (and others) wouldn’t likely be saying that if the election results had been different in November, but a spirit of collaboration is good for the country.

     Third, Americans are optimistic.  In a CNN polls, most Americans approve how President Trump is handling his return to the White House.  70% of Americans expect Trump to make significant change and 54% approve of how he has handled the presidential transition thus far.  The stock market has soared since Trump won.  The anticipation he will loosen government regulations on business and impose tariffs on imports have fueled a bullish spirit on Wall Street.  Consumer confidence in policy is critical for successful economic policy.  Trump has expanded hope that personal finances will improve in his second term.

     Many of the liberals adamantly/ staunchly opposed to Trump in his first term appear to have dialed down the lunacy/insanity in the second.  They seem to have adapted to the circumstances.  Like a riverboat gambler, they’ve learned to ‘play the hand they’re dealt.’  A pragmatic accepting of reality has been absent in politics for too long.  To accomplish a goal, one must use the resources which are actually available and to recognize the limits of the circumstances. 

     Leverage is the power to influence the other party in a negotiation to accept your conditions. It's the factor that gives one party more influence over the outcome.  In any negotiation, leverage is critical.  Trump said in The Art of the Deal, “Don’t make deals without it(leverage).”  In November, voters gave Trump leverage.