<\/a><\/div>\nThe more I keep looking at this, the worse last night's results keep looking.<\/p>\n
For all the fulminating over GOP Obstructionism and the like, the Obama Administration has done some remarkable things, seized some opportunities, and Obama himself has accomplished a lot.<\/p>\n
And it's all fragile and ready to blow away.<\/p>\n
In the face of congressional intransigence, Obama did a lot through executive orders, like protecting gay workers for federal contractors. The problem there being, of course, that the next executive can (and doubtless will) roll all that back, and probably throw in his own zany ideas.<\/p>\n
The signature legislation of the Obama administration was the ACA, a flawed but distinct step forward in providing health care coverage for all Americans. He's fought a major battle to keep the GOP from dismantling it — and now they can, both on an executive and legislative level. What will replace it? Nothing that looks very promising.<\/p>\n
The President also acts through the administration. The Justice Dept. has done a lot to fight against local GOP state governments and their efforts to restrict inconvenient minority voting. It's also investigated local problems with police departments and excessive use of force. The Interior Dept. has done a lot to fight against local and federal efforts to open up federal lands — including parks and wildernesses — to exploitation by mining and energy companies. The Energy Department encouraged the use of alternative energy sources. The EPA worked to protect rivers, and to manage coal pollution of the land, water, and air. The Administration has also fought in court over the application of Medicaid funding to organizations like Planned Parenthood. <\/p>\n
All that sort of activity also stops in January — and, in fact, probably does an about face.<\/p>\n
The President does a lot in foreign policy. He's made accords regarding climate change (that will be quickly tossed out), and signed the deal with Iran (which Trump has roundly criticized). <\/p>\n
More importantly, he's taken the chaotic cowboy diplomacy and interventionism of the G W Bush era and tried instead to act like the adult in the room. He's not been perfect by any means, but overall estimation of the US has improved globally.<\/p>\n
If Trump behaves as President as he behaved as Candidate, US prestige is about to take a tremendous nose dive. Trade wars will be threatened. Alliances will be shaken. Folk will step into the gaps left.<\/p>\n
In short, all the progress, all the hard-fought and rejoiced victories made over the past eight years, are all poised to be wiped out, and replaced with Trump's executive actions, a GOP-led congress' pet programs, and a Supreme Court that will get at least one, and probably more, Trump nominees (not to mention the numerous federal judgeships he will fill). <\/p>\n
So, amidst all the gloom, what can Dems do?<\/p>\n
First, be helpful<\/b>. Be kind<\/b>. Reach out to people who get hurt by the chaos to come. Stand up to bullies and haters who have been emboldened. Give, where you can, to organizations that help others, or that fight in court against injustice. <\/p>\n
Second, speak out<\/b>. As bad things happen, protest. Change hearts and minds. Help the folk who put Trump over the top see what he's doing to them,<\/i> as well as to fellow Americans.<\/p>\n
Third, the House and (especially) Senate minorities face a challenge of deciding where to obstruct<\/b>, and where to engage<\/b> with an eye to diverting legislation from its worst implications. They need to work with the majority leadership when Trump goes off the rails (and point it out when it's not seen). And there will be times when they need to take a page from the GOP's own play book and use the filibuster.<\/p>\n
Fourth, the Dems (as the DNC and as individuals) need to be looking to 2018<\/b> and the local and House elections then. They need to be looking further out to 2020<\/b>, when Trump is up for re-election. Who is going to face him? How do the different factions within the Democratic party resolve their differences to stand united against an incumbent? Just as importantly, they need to be looking to local statehouse races, because 2020 is a Census year, which means it's when legislative district boundaries will be redrawn.<\/p>\n
It will be a huge, uphill struggle, helped to some degree by what I expect to be a litany of Trump provocations. But as this race pointed out, it's not enough to simply be against Trump. People need to be inspired to<\/i> a vision (and candidates that embody it), to fight back and to win elections. If folk are hungry for "change," the next four years should<\/i> give them plenty they want to see changed as well. <\/p>\n
And remember — demographics are working against that more-rural, less-educated, white Trump base. And even with that, Clinton seems to have actually won the popular vote. We are not a small group standing up against a mass movement. In some ways, this was a very precarious (and unexpected) victory for Trump; the issue is not how we can ever come back, it's how much harm will be done in the meantime.<\/p>\n
If the Democrats are smart (always, organizationally, a big question mark), we can fix this. But it's not going to be easy, and there's going to be a lot of pain to a lot of people until we do.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n