President Obama and the Democrats were gleeful in reminding Republicans and the country in 2008 and 2012 that elections have consequences. Rarely were Republicans invited to participate in policymaking. In fact, with -ObamaCare as the pinnacle of their achievement, Democrats did exactly what they wanted to do when they had control of the legislative and executive branches of government. At the same time, Democrats blamed Republicans when they decided not to do what could remain a wedge issue politically.
The political pendulum has now swung to the other side of the aisle. Since the election of Barack Obama in 2008, Democrats have lost 64 House of Representative and 13 U.S. Senate seats, Republican governorships stand at 33 and Republicans have won or converted more than 1,000 seats of state legislatures.
{mosads}Democrats made their clarion call to the Republicans and the country that it needed to move more to the center while attacking policies from the right as being too far right. Now the same Democrats, whose party has moved to the far left, as evidenced by the primaries, their leadership and their policies, are calling for Republicans to move to the center to work with them.
Their logic is somewhat contradictory. Applying their logic, it is now time for them to move to the center in order to work with the Republicans and the demands of the American population for right-of-center solutions. The reality is they will not because the leadership and their selection of future party leaders demonstrates a far-left-leaning party.
Republicans now in control of the White House, the Senate and the House of Representatives must act like winners and move forward on a Republican platform that does not include leftist ideas. Either Democrats come to the right, or for the next two years until the midterm Senate elections, the Republicans have an opportunity to deliver solutions and continue to pull Americans into the Republican camp regardless of their political affiliation.
In this current lame-duck session, it is evident that Obama will poison the political well as much as possible until the inauguration of Donald Trump. The Dakota Access Pipeline issue is just one example, and we will see what action he will take when it comes to his ideological beliefs on illegal immigration and Muslim migrants.
The secret deal struck to bring over 2,000 unwanted, and at best questionable, migrants from Australia to the United States from Muslim countries with pervasive levels of Islamists, is another point of evidence.
Expect many roadblocks to be put in the way through the use of executive orders and regulations for the first 100 days of the Trump administration. As the failures of the Obama administration unravel for America and the world to see, it is likely that the bunker mentality sets in, and Obama, in spite of his public words, privately becomes entrenched and politically vindictive.
Going forward, the Trump administration will have to work diligently to rollback what Obama leaves in place and at the same time be mindful of the establishment Republicans and their efforts to maintain the status quo. It’s an old rule in Washington, D.C. and applicable to both parties that senators and congressmen see presidents as an eight-year year inconvenience. Apply this rule to the many legs of the political institutions and special interest lobbyists within the Beltway.
On global affairs, the world is a more dangerous place. This is only up for debate in the political universe. The facts available for all to read about, watch on television or share on social media have given rise to public awareness of the geopolitical threats of Islamists, rogue regimes, dictatorships and economic globalists. Populism in America, Brexit and the rise of economic nationalism is a reflection of the desire for sovereignty and self-determination. The left, far left, anti-capitalists and those seemingly kind socialist movements around the world are determined to change the conversation as they lose control of governments. They have been exposed by their failure and, like a cornered and wounded animal, will lash out.
The counter to globalism is success and sovereignty. There will always be issues between nations and differences in constitutions and systems of laws, but without sovereignty as a baseline there can be no fair debate between nations on a variety of issues including security and economic security.
If Republicans act like winners and govern for the win that the American people need to have, a government that works on their behalf, it will matter little, if any, what attacks come from the left. No retreat, no surrender and no more bad deals with the left.
Webb is host of “The David Webb Show” on SiriusXM Patriot 125, a Fox News contributor and has appeared frequently on television as a commentator. Webb co-founded TeaParty365 in New York City. His column appears twice a month in The Hill.