Since Labor Day has passed, the 2016 election will start in earnest. That’s normally the time that candidates who will compete for Senate and House seats in the U.S. Congress as well for the presidency start feeling some stress about their chance of winning.
The stress will build as this election cycle may be the most unpredictable in possibly a 100 years. Why? The senate will have 34 races up for grabs. The Republicans will need to defend 24 races with a number of those being in heavily Democratic leaning states. The Democrats will need to defend only 10 seats. This makes this possible for the Democrats retaking the majority they lost in 2014.
The GOP is in danger because Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has not stood up for conservative issues and in part has done President Obama’s bidding. It is believed by possibly most conservatives that McConnell has not kept his campaign promises which has resulted in the other GOP candidates not being able to keep their promises to those who fought to get them re-elected. McConnell’s rating with Conservative Review is 52%. That’s a failing grade, an “F”!
As 70% is the passing acceptable rate to be a conservative there are 17 Republicans who are under this rate which makes it even more difficult for the GOP to keep the senate. The conservative voters may be out in full force IF they get a conservative representing their party in the general election. It’s possible if they don’t like their nominee they may stay home in mass. Why vote for a Republican if he or she leans left as many of the moderate candidates do?
In the U.S. House of Representatives all 435 candidates are up for re-election. The GOP presently controls the House but John Boehner’s ineptness and lack of keeping his campaign promises may result in the voters wanting to clean house. As long as the other House members have kept Boehner as their Speaker they may pay the price of their party loyalty to him. John Boehner’s rating with Conservative Review is 35%, a total failing grade of “F.”
To further complicate the prediction process of winners and losers are the issues. Two issues that will still be in the spotlight are (1) the Iran nuclear deal and (2) the selling of baby parts including some babies still breathing. Democrats who voted for these bills in Congress may have trouble with their re-elections.
With all the failures of both political parties this may be the ideal time for a third party. It’s time for “We the People” to stand up to Obama and his Democrats for transforming America into a socialist country and for the Republicans being without a backbone to defend our country from allowing this to happen.
But getting a third party on the ballot in all 50 states is very expensive and time consuming. Each state has their own requirements for a new party being allowed on the ballots. The legal requirements set up by the Democrats and Republicans have been to keep any third party off the ballots. However, it could be possible if a third party had a strong candidate and a strong message to get close to 40% of the vote which more than likely would win the presidency.
As I mentioned, this is going to be an unpredictable election.
Roger H. Ewing, Hays