I don’t consider myself a political junkie, and I’ve always tried to avoid office politics. However, I am fascinated with what is going to happen in our government over the next 24 months, in regards to the 2014 midterm elections.
I’ve never paid much attention to midterm elections, and I know that our country’s already paltry voter turnout numbers (for presidential elections) are even less for midterm elections. I’m curious if both voters’ interest and turnout will increase in 2014.Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) famously said in 2010 that “the single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president.” I don’t know any other way to read that but as a blatant obstructionist ideal, and a philosophy that flies completely in the face of bipartisanship and compromise.
I’m fascinated to see if McConnell — who, BTW, has to work with a majority-Democrat Senate — will become more cooperative, due to Obama’s reelection. McConnell, who won in 2008 with 53% of the vote in Kentucky, is up for reelection in 2014. He is already preparing a campaign. His fellow Kentuckians may gladly reelect him on their own, but I’m wondering if there will be a grass-roots movement from around the country to influence the outcome of his campaign.
Additionally, I’m eager to see what House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) does in the way of bipartisanship over the next several months. He has run unopposed several times (including 2012). I’m wondering whether that will change in 2014.I’m curious if these two gentlemen (and many of their contemporaries in Congress) are more politically savvy than they are politically idealistic. My intuition says that if they and their coterie continue to obstruct Obama, they will be toast in 2014. It will be fascinating to watch these two men in the next several months.
— Aaron