Oklahoma’s own Will Rogers once pointed out as only a political pundit of his stature could:
“Conditions win elections and not speeches.”
As anyone with a thorough knowledge and understanding of the history of American politics will tell you, there has always been an element of contentious polarization from the beginning of the Republic to date. It may have perhaps been variable in magnitude and influence but it has always been a present element of the American body politic. A solid argument can made that the events of the here and now are being played out before the backdrop of the most polarizing political climate since the Vietnam era fifty years ago. The majority party taking up space under the dome on Capitol Hill in Washington and the one at NE 23rd and Lincoln in Oklahoma City are . Not only are they failing, they are doing so in grand fashion. What’s more, many of these majority party members are responsive only to their base of supporters that elected them. Many of those who make up that base are satisfied that those in control of government by their mere presence either upset, annoy or actually harm via inaction those who do not share their extremist values. On the downside, is quickly losing its luster. Its shine may not be fading for everyone mind you but certainly it is for enough registered voters to be a problem for incumbent Republicans and their operatives. The current occupant of the White House, who captured the populist element to secure his electoral vote victory in 2016, has made an integral part of his administration a willingness to flaunt his true colors along side the depth of his ignorance of government and managerial ineptitude. If recent history is any indication, The 45th *President seems to have acquired a reverse Midas touch when stumping for GOP special election candidates. He has instead has become an anchor around the collective neck of his party. When Republican candidates struggle and come up short in can’t-lose locales like Alabama and southwest Pennsylvania, there is more afoot than what may appear on the surface. Again, not everyone is quitting the Republicans and their *President, but making the case he and his party have the solutions to the increasingly complex problems confronting the nation and the people is becoming the tallest of orders.
In the heretofore very red state of Oklahoma, the GOP majority that controls the state’s 56th Legislature has made its fair share of history and much of it not the good kind. After being called back to special session by a Republican governor TWICE and still not getting a state budget formulated let alone passed, the *leadership engaged a group of white male petroleum and business executives calling themselves Step Up Oklahoma. The proposal which was advanced by the GOP leadership and included multiple small to modest tax increases to fund pay raises for all Oklahoma public school teachers was put to a vote in the Oklahoma House. It failed to gain the required 75% approval due to the fact seventeen Democrats and eighteen Republicans thought it to be a bad idea. Blame for its failure was immediately directed at the minority party. The majority party then set about to penalize the minority by disallowing any Democratic-authored bill out of committee. It is juvenile actions such as this that make charges like petty, inept and incompetent stand on merit. I believe it is reasonable to expect better from elected legislators, but then again this is Oklahoma where so many Republicans have come to believe it is their birthright to never be told “No.”
Over the past twelve months in one special election after another the GOP seems to have lost its veneer of invincibility. While they have won most races in which they were favored, their margin of victory has been steadily waning. There have been where their and wondering how they could have possibly been rejected. The level of national dissatisfaction with dysfunctional and non-responsive government is way past the critical mass required to make enough Congressional seats competitive to the point of flipping at least one chamber of Congress in this November’s General Election. The rise of the forthcoming Democratic wave of 2018 is palpable. As an Oklahoma Democrat I am resigned to the likelihood that while we may see some of that big blue wave awash here in the all-red Sooner State, the effect will be muted accordingly. That said, I can promise one thing: the Republicans, incumbents and challengers, are going to have to work harder than they ever have any time previous for every election victory they earn. Yes, EARN. There will be no more double-digit unopposed legislative seats. They are going to have to raise and spend some money. They are going to have to do more than demonize the different and demagogue the things they are against. They are going to have to clearly articulate what exactly they are for and detail a plan of how to get there. It is the charge of each Democratic incumbent and candidate to challenge their opponents and ensure they are held accountable at the ballot box.
The Democratic wave is rising to tsunami level on a daily basis. I have seen many new faces at Democratic Party meetings and several new prospective candidates oozing with energy and enthusiasm. Those qualities will take them only so far. A message of responsibility, inclusion, dedication to duty and a vision of long term prosperity will help get them the rest of the way. Everybody hang on. The Democratic wave is coming!