Congress Turns Red (And So Do The Voters)

English: Official photo cropped of United States Senator and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Republicans will soon control Congress by winning a majority in the previously Democratic Senate and maintaining theirs in the House of Representatives, the result of midterm elections that reflected the anger of voters who have seen what years of gridlock have done to the country.  Or maybe it's a reaction to all those political ads that people loathe, but TV stations love because they're getting a financial windfall from it.

In truth, the GOP has been running the show in Washington for the past few years by yelling the loudest and getting little done while Democrats--even when they had a majority--cowered.  Not to mention undermining a President who they believed should never have taken office to begin with.  And you wonder why voters were angry.

President Barack Obama has not helped himself with low job approval ratings, slow reactions to crises involving Ebola and ISIS/ISIL, and the general sense that things really aren't getting better despite the improving economy.

Both the President and GOP Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky (who most assume will be the next Senate majority leader) have stated that they heard the voters and have pledged to "work across the aisle", so to speak, to get needed legislation passed.  That's what you'd expect them to say the day after an election.  On key issues such as immigration and health care, however, the two sides are so far apart that compromise is not even considered.  And if the President doesn't like the legislation he's been given, he can always use a veto or an executive order as the last word.

So prepare yourselves for more of the same finger-pointing between the parties while very little gets done.  The 2016 campaign begins in three . . . two . . .one . . .

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Meanwhile, back in Minnesota, this state has become an oasis of blue for the Democrats in a sea of red.  Governor Mark Dayton and Senator Al Franken won new terms without having to resort to recounts, handily defeating their GOP opponents.  Also going back to Washington are Rick Nolan, Collin Peterson, Betty McCollum and Keith Ellison.

The Republicans had something to crow about, too, to go along with their national victory.  Congressional incumbents John Kline and Erik Paulsen were re-elected, and Tom Emmer is replacing Michele Bachmann as the Sixth District representative.

The big story, really, is that the GOP has taken control of the Minnesota House.  The Democrats retain control of the Senate only because they weren't up for election this year.  With a divided Legislature, Governor Dayton will have a much tougher time getting his agenda passed in his second term.  It also increases the possibility of another state government shutdown caused by budgetary gridlock, something both sides say they'll try to avoid.  Again, just like with Congress, we'll believe it when we see it.