In the days before airlines charged cancellation fees, congressional staffers would have a pool as to when Congress would adjourn or recess before Christmas. Members as well as staffers who were seeking to go home calculated when the final gavel would come down in December. To many people’s surprise so far, Congress actually is making remarkable and shockingly good progress. It has passed another “stop-gap” FY 2022 continuing funding resolution, lifted the national debt ceiling, and passed the National Defense Authorization Act. As always, Congress left the best or the toughest bill for last. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi now need to see if they can give President Biden the Christmas present he so dearly wants, passage of the Build Back Better Bill before the Holidays. At this point it seems likely that they will try but it may not be done until after the New Year.
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Senate Off-Year Races
The scenarios for the 2022 congressional elections continue to get more and more confrontational, especially for the Republican Party. Assuming the GOP can maintain control of their current seats, they need a net gain in one race to take over the Senate in 2023. It already appears that they will face a major problem as to how to address the determination of former President Trump to impose himself into every possible contest.
In Georgia flipping the Senate seat now held by Rev. Raphael Warnock with former football star Herschel Walker—like Warnock also an African American—is not going to be so simple. Despite having President Trump’s support Walker has considerable baggage of his own. The gubernatorial race in Georgia itself is going to be very polarizing, both within the Republican Party and the general election running again against Stacey Abrams. Walker’s race, therefore, will be that much more complicated and challenging.
Similarly in Pennsylvania the seat being vacated with the retirement of Senator Pat Toomey appears likely to be a wide-open contest for both parties, with the Democrats starting off with a bit of lead. The Republicans already have seen one Trump backed candidate, Sean Parnell, forced to withdraw (officially only suspend) his race because he lost a child custody fight with his ex-wife. Another big Trump supporter is Mehmet Oz, a celebrity doctor. Dr. Oz was already labelled as a “carpet-bagger” within days of announcing his decision to enter the race because he lives in New Jersey. Lt. Governor John Fetterman is the leading Democrat at the moment, but he is already facing numerous challenges from both the right and left.
In Missouri, there already are concerns that a President Trump candidate is going to undermine what should be the Republicans good chance to keep this seat. The former President is supporting Eric Greitens who was charged in 2018 with felony invasion and computer tampering and, in a different matter, of alleged sexual assault. All of this may well undercut former Governor Greitens’ chances even with Trump’s backing.
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Mark Meadows
Anyone who assumed that former Trump White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows would walk into the January 6 Committee hearing and tell the story of what happened during the January 6 insurrection was sorely mistaken. Not only is the former congressman determined to challenge the committee, but it appears that he is now following the Trump technique as he seeks to muddy the waters even more by bringing a lawsuit against the House Speaker. There is a distinct possibility that within 13 months the House could flip back into Republican hands. The cases already filed and yet to come are beginning to weigh heavily on those who hope this committee will get the testimony it is seeking before a new Congress comes in 2023. In many cases it would be the money these lawsuits will cost which could stop the legal merry-go-round, but no doubt the Trump cash machine will probably produce enough contributions to cover all the suits and appeals.
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The Season of Joy and Goodwill?
It appears that from a political perspective this holiday season is looking very sad. There are continued worries about the omicron virus, holiday travel, masking confrontations, and continued vaccine rejection. American families will be happier this year than last year because they have vaccination immunity; yet with inflation, job insecurity, and continuing health issues, many are anxious about the future for themselves and their families. On a global level the picture is equally unsure and bleak. The bitterness and acrimony in Washington despite all of President Biden’s good intentions, make for a mood of foreboding about the future for the country and the world.
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