The time has come for America to unite. To heal after the bitter mid-term fight. To be truly great and grow, America cannot afford to widen the large and wide schism running through the country. The mid-terms have shown the world America is more divided than ever.
The gap has to be narrowed dramatically for America to survive and thrive.
Mr. President and congressional leaders, winning elections does not benefit Americans if they are angry and afraid of each other. It certainly doesn’t benefit the nation. It only benefits the Party — Democratic or Republican for now. It is a short term gain.
Major contributing factors to the red wall that stopped the blue wave were good job data released last Friday showed the fasted job growth since 2009; that the trade conflict with China has not had any major adverse effect on America’s economy; wild stock market swings in October; and “Immigration Invasion” of criminals and terrorists campaign rhetoric tempered the blue wave. Trump mongering drowned out the Democrats and won a couple extra seats in the Senate.
Voter turnout was unusually high for a non-presidential midterm election. Being and absentee voter, I was delighted to see that as of last Friday, almost 32.4 million people had cast early ballots according to The Election Project at the University of Florida, which tracks voter turnout. That was 50 percent higher from the 20.5 million early votes cast in the last midterm in 2014.
The red wave surged because of the high voter turnout of Trump loyalists, Republicans and Independents, who decided to keep America on the domestic and international economic and political trajectory it is on — for now.
The blue wave surged in the House of Representatives because of high voter turnout by millennials and traditionally apathetic voters who decided they must display their dismay and dissatisfaction with President Trump and his policies.
Democrats out-raised and out-spent Republicans by more than $300 million, but still not enough to create a blue wave surge and win both houses of Congress.
Political spending exceeded $5 billion making it the most expensive midterm in history.
The midterms were a referendum on President Trump even though his name was not on any ballot.
Long term America has to get back to economic and political basics. The Trump Political Reality Show has had a good run. A couple of good seasons. But to continue its run and not be cancelled — and go down in history as the best political show — America must reject any further division and unite. President Trump must lead the fight. Democrats and Republicans must unite and join the unity fight.
America has a strong economy, bipartisanship in Congress — bringing an end to political gridlock — can make America even stronger.
It is time Democrats and Republicans come together after their bitterly divisive fights during the mid-terms.
It is time America starts rejecting any more division.
It is time for Democrats and Republicans to stop blocking each other’s legislative agenda.
It is time for bipartisan health care legislation.
It is time for a bipartisan infrastructure program.
It is time for bipartisan immigration reform legislation.
It is time for bipartisan justice reform.
It is time to stop spending money America doesn’t have.
It is time America complete building its new international bridges in Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
It is time the U.S. and China resolve their trade differences. Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander, who led a delegation of U.S. Senators and Congressmen to China last week said it best to Chinese Premier Li Keqiang: “Your country and our country are competitors, but not adversaries. We believe that with mutual respect, we can continue to prosper together.”
Let’s hope Presidents Trump and Xi agree to do so when they sit down for dinner next month.
It is time….
Actually, if President Trump can get Congress or China to come together on any one or more of what I’ve listed, I’ll then continue with the rest of the list.
Until then, let’s not fight and unite!
The time is long overdue for President Trump, congressional leaders in the House and Senate, to shake hands, embrace and do what’s right for the country — not the party.
That will make America even greater!