The American people gave the GOP another chance last night, in a historic drubbing that will likely net 9 senate seats and 10+ house seats. There can be no question that this wave election was driven in no small part by dissatisfaction with Obama's policies and the perceived state of the economy.
Now the GOP has a choice: This can either be a springboard to a conservative resurgence and retaking the White House in 2016, or it can be just a brief gasp of air before being sucked back down into the GOP's recent whirlpool of mediocrity. It will all come down to how they govern.
Step 1: Immigration. This has to be first, because Obama seems sure to make good on his promise to grant effective amnesty to millions of illegals by year's end, before the GOP Senate is sworn in. It is a bitterly cynical ploy, designed to both shore up Hispanic support and fracture the GOP between tea party and pro-big business elements.
It is no longer enough to criticize the President and threaten unrelated punitive actions, like another budget battle. That is exactly what Obama wants. Instead, the GOP must present an alternative. A unified congress must pass tough but fair comprehensive immigration reform that confers temporary legal status, for a price, but shuts down chain migration and effectively terminates illegal immigration with a combination of enhanced border security, accelerated deportation procedures, and employer verification requirements. The American people will support this , and by lawfully passing such legislation and placing it on the president's desk, any unilateral executive action by Obama will blow up in his face.
Step 2: Pick up "easy wins" along the way. The Republicans need to focus on advancing smaller pieces of legislation that have broad popular support - stuff that will again backfire on Obama if he dares to veto it. Energy policy, such as easing drilling permit restrictions and "greenlighting" the Keystone pipeline, is fertile ground.
Step 3: Put Obamacare back on Obama's desk. It is finally time for a unified GOP to make good on their promise to put "repeal and replace" on Obama's desk. There are already good bills percolating in the House to do just that. Of course, Obama will never sign any such legislation, but it is essential for 2016 that such legislation be presented and that he be forced to veto it.
Step 4: Dismantle Obamacare. Once Obama has vetoed the above, it is time for smaller bills dismantling Obamacare one stinky brick at a time. Start with low hanging fruit like the medical device tax and go from there.
Step 5: Pass a budget that dramatically cuts spending across every agency. This one goes without saying. It is exciting to think that, at long last, a unified GOP congress is finally in a position to move towards a balanced budget.
Follow these 5 steps and you can say hello to President Walker/Cruz in 2016. Fail and it's hello Hillary.
