The jobs picture continues to improve and the latest COVID news is also an improvement. Let's hope those trends will continue and maybe the body politic will notice. From my desk, just as winter is almost starting to lose its grip on us, the Election year picture for the Democratic Party's candidates seems to getting brighter.
However, if liberals are distracted from the good news, and not wearing their Happy Days Are Here Again faces, it could be because war drums are beating louder and louder in Europe. Hard to say how that churning witches' brew might bubble over and splatter onto American politics.
One thing, for sure, the uncertainties of a shooting war in Europe could reshuffle the 2022 deck of cards depicting political outcomes in the USA. For that matter, there's no telling what hand any of the countries involved will draw. Still, it's hard for me to see how the Trumpists' apparent affection for Putin will put them in a good light.
Furthermore, when it comes to events that might affect political polls, don't overlook what impact the January 6 Committee's findings could have on public opinion in the weeks and months ahead. Live hearings on television for weeks on end -- with confessions and accusations flying hither and yon -- probably won't be all that good for the guilty-as-sin Trumpist cult and its affiliated Republican candidates.
After that, heap on 36 more weeks of Republicans in red states squabbling endlessly over what the hell to say, or not say, about the last presidential election. If half the Republicans are going to insist that the so-called "stolen election" is the only issue that matters, and the other half insists that to win elections this year the party must stop dwelling on Trump ... wow! it's damn hard to see how such a fracture of the GOP would enhance it prospects on election day.
Add it all up and it looks like some of those pundits continuing to forecast a Republican wave election, coast-to-coast, in November of 2022, are peddling a stale opinion. Their election playbook seems to be getting more outdated with every passing day.
Now, with springtime almost approaching and some important trends going their way, it's time for smart Democrats stop fretting over Youngkin's outlier win in Virginia and turn the page. The season is upon Democrats to start touting the Biden administration's trustworthy leadership, its sound decisions and its crisis management.
The story of the Biden administration's worthwhile accomplishments, in spite of the obstacles, needs to be told repeatedly and effectively. Put on those shades, Democrats, and let the good times roll.
