On Monday, ret. Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman took to Twitter to encourage his followers to support Democrats in this year’s midterm elections.
As he outlined the situation, Republicans are likely to use further Congressional control they might gain for pointless and damaging partisan exercises, like investigating Hunter Biden — something that, even maintaining impartiality and treating both sides equally, there’s no indication Congress needs to address. Other investigators are already dealing with it, and Hunter isn’t involved in his father’s presidential administration or running for office, meaning political ramifications are slim. “Thinking of voting for the GOP… they might help with inflation. They won’t,” Vindman reminded those potentially entertaining the idea of voting for Republicans. “They have no policy solution… will engage in partisan investigation, block legislation in Congress, & set conditions for [Trump’s] return. Dem control will move legislation & protect your rights! Simple!!!”
Thinking of voting for the GOP… they might help with inflation. They won’t. They have no policy solution… will engage in partisan investigation, block legislation in Congress, & set conditions for Trumps return. Dem control will move legislation & protect your rights! Simple!!!
— Alexander S. Vindman (@AVindman) October 17, 2022
Even at present, Republicans ignore a lot of the relevant factors in discussing inflation and economic issues. What about targeting the energy companies using the opportunity provided by precarious geopolitical conditions to jack up prices? What about the efforts in which the Biden team and Democrats have already engaged to try and bring down costs? When a bill supporting the U.S. manufacture of a widely used technological component called semiconductor chips came before the House, Republican leaders ended up encouraging GOP’ers in the chamber to vote against it as political retaliation for the emergence of the Inflation Reduction Act in the Senate. The latter bill, a budget reconciliation package (meaning no Senate GOP votes were needed), contained wide-ranging policies boosting the fight against climate change, bringing down healthcare costs, and more. Most House Republicans voted against the chips bill, with just two dozen from among over 200 in support. That’s the party’s legislative record.
Polling suggests the race to control the House and Senate could be close. FiveThirtyEight, an elections data and analysis site, estimates Democrats have a better chance of holding the Senate while Republicans lead in the race for controlling the House. The latter scenario could mean Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), whose guiding principles seem like whatever Donald Trump says they are, could become the House Speaker.
