The results of the 2012 General Election have made things very clear to the voting public as well as those who are and will be in Congress: Work together or else!!!!!
Former Governor Mitt Romney had the sails at his back heading into the election after a strong performance in the first of the three presidential debates. He had the full advantage and the polls were tightening in his favor but two things became his undoing: his overconfidence that the trends would continue and he underestimated his opponent.
When the books are written about the 2012 Presidential Election Campaign it hopefully will reveal the things that President Barack Obama did to get a second term in office. From the beginning, this campaign knew exactly what to do and how to do it. Shortly after the Republican primary was decided, the Obama campaign went on a summertime ad blitz defining Romney throughout the summer months which tipped the scales in his favor coming out of the conventions.
Secondly, this campaign knew which voting blocks they needed if they were going to win another term in the White House. They specifically targeted young voters, Hispanics, Asians and the African-American voting blocks and turned them out in huge numbers – more than he did in 2008. By expanding the electorate, the Democratic Party is one that’s fitting the mold for how campaigns are to be run in the 21st century. Also, they are changing their message to fit in with the changing electorate.
On the other hand, the Republicans haven’t changed much over the last thirty years or so. Even though they are still winning with the white male vote, that alone will not win them the White House in the near future. They haven’t changed their message in who knows how long and they don’t relate to the rest of us. Sure they can turn out conservatives but one thing was very clear about what happened this year during the campaign: you can’t be against everything and run on nothing. Driving out the vote out of anger this time failed miserably. Secondly, they don’t relate to the rest of us with the draconian positions some within the party tried to take during the campaign. Thirdly, it’s the interference of the Tea Party that has gotten in the way of real progress. Those who are back by this group have tried to run for the Senate have been soundly defeated. Some of these candidates ended up with their own death nail with the mantra: open mouth, insert (item of choice).
Now that the campaigns are all done and nothing has really changed, the real question is what’s next. The main challenge right now is the impending ‘fiscal cliff’ that’s coming at the end of the year if something isn’t done. Major concessions have to be made on tax reform and the budget before the whole thing hits the fan and another recession is triggered. Tax hikes for everyone and across-the-board cuts will go into effect and no one wants any of that to happen. More challenges await but right now this is the main thing that has to be done before the year ends.
The election has taught us one thing: the time for partisan bickering is over. Now we have to come together to solve the country’s problems before we send ourselves into even more bad times.
