The mid-term elections were last week and Thanksgiving will arrive soon. Politically, we have much to be thankful for. Lessons learned from last week’s results are many, but I will concentrate upon the most important ones for the Democrats and the country. Here goes:

1. Trump was, figuratively, on the ballot everywhere. For the most part, he and his policies and actions, were repudiated. Thanks to an overwhelming victory by the Democrats in the House of Representatives, our Fool-in-Chief may continue to grumble and project hate, but he can be checked by an aroused public and a watchful House.
2. Don’t take Trump, or anyone of his loyalists for granted. The President can use Executive Orders, Nominations (especially Judicial), and other political maneuvers, to attain what he wants. When he does act problematically, he must be challenged. Even when the Democrats lose a vote or confrontation, by operating strategically they can make sure that their positions are heard. Don’t forget the challenge to Obamacare. Nancy Pelosi was right; stay focused on the big issues that matter to the American people. If the Democrats can do that and maintain a centrist policy agenda, everyone but the Enablers win.
3. Yes, there is a rural/urban divide in the United States, but it is one that is capable of being breached. The country is growing more diverse and politically aware, especially because of social media. No-one likes to be called “Deplorable.” Respect, not opprobrium, should be offered those we disagree with. Name-calling is Trumpian and counter-productive. Hubris must be struck from our personal codes of political behavior if we expect to do well in 2020. As the battle over the Affordable Care Act demonstrated, appeals relying on truth and personal consequences are much more effective than lies and personal attack.
4. When and if the Mueller Report discovers evidence that Trump committed “High crimes and misdemeanors,” that is when it is time to move towards impeachment. Remember, the “Emoluments ” clause of the Constitution (i.e. a President may not receive benefits from foreign governments), has clearly been violated by Trump thru his business interests. But, is that the kind of “Crime” that would move impeachment to a successful “guilty,” verdict in the Senate? Unless the answer is a confident “yes,” it may be better to just insert it into Democratic talking points for use in 2020.
5. Americans remain centrist in political orientation. Progressive candidates won last week, but let’s not move so far leftward in our political agenda(s) that Democratic Party candidates become unelectable in two years. Remember, only a minority of voters operate at the extremes. The vast majority exist from left-of-center to right-of-center. For a given election, voters may sway a little more to the extreme than at other times; but the centrist band does hold true; that’s where the voters are. The Blue Wave in 2018 was real, but it was not a tsunami. It remains centrist in both ideology and appeal.

Other lessons remain, but for the sake of brevity they must await my next post.